Happy Karvachauth

We were greeted this morning by our daughter with this artwork on our kitchen wall!!

Artist: Saumya
Description as given by the artist: Moon is visible from our dining room window. Daddy is standing with a platter of puas (we eat them at moon rise to break our fast).  Mama is smiling, looking pretty in a Saree and Saumya is all ready seated to have dinner. Happy Karvachauth!

Friend In Law

 In the Hindi movie Bawarchi (1972) Harindranath Chatopadhya who plays the role of shivnath, the oldest man in the household,  calls his son, played by A K Hangal,  early in the morning for a cup of tea because their bawarchi (cook) has left work. 
The son asks, "why did you call me so early in the morning?" 
and the very old father replies:
Aur nahi to kya bahu ko bulata? (Should I have called my daughter in law instead?)
Wo to daughter in law hai, Qanoon ki beti. Ab subah subah qanoon ke jhameley mein kaun pade, isliye tujhey hi bulaya" !!  :-))
(She is the "daughter in law" as in daughter of the law. Who wants to deal with the law right early in the morning, so I called you my son) 
                                             While getting pampered on Mother's Day one thought kept on loitering my mind. Is there a day to celebrate Mother in Laws? I mean is there a mother in law day? If there is one, it's not marketed well enough because I have never heard about it.  A mother in law - daughter in law relationship is anything but unpretentious! Initial days or rather years are spent marking territories. Mother in law who generally rules the roost is determined to let the daughter in law know that being part of the family doesn't mean having authority. Do not mess with that! And the daughter in law is busy pronouncing her position in the roost, which by the way is more that being mere part of the family. This endeavor of power, though is not vocal but it certainly is undeniable. But please allow me to sweeten this tussle by expressing that it is not always unpleasant. Once the two are comfortable in their respective zones and are able to look at each other as a person, as an individual outside of how they are are related to each other and know about each other's likes, dislikes, hobbies & interests, they can experience the joy of an engaging friendship right at home!!
  We all celebrate mother's day with much pomp and show, express our love for our beloved moms and it is important but isn't it even more important to express our gratitude for someone who didn't give birth to us and still plays the role of being a mother in more than one ways?   
                                 After celebrating mother's day, I am here today to write about my mother in law. I am not here to say that ours is a heaven sent relationship which never saw any bad day. We had had our shares of battles which subsequently brought a fair share of heartaches, for both of us. But which relationship in the world is perfect? 

                 Like many newlyweds, I was an amateur cook at best! But Ma was always there to share her wisdom in the kitchen. Over those rushed long distance phone calls, over the emails which she was learning to compose or in person, she always shares her recipes enthusiastically. There is no power struggle, no desire to demonstrate that only she can cook those dishes. I thank her for that. Today when I lovingly cook those dishes I learnt from her and get praises, I feel such warmth and proudly tell everyone that my mother in law taught me those.

Thank you Ma! While herself being in the kitchen, her sole focus is not on her son or her grand daughter, she very lovingly makes the things I love to eat!! Once, on our way to our endless shopping trips in Delhi, she made sure that I get to eat those steaming hot Shakarkandis, everyone else in the car was just so tired and wanted to go home but she diligently looked for one of those street vendors and was determined to find one!! Thank you Ma!

                                   My mother in law is a woman of many attributes. Whether you are a relative, an acquaintance or a close friend, you would not want a social gathering without her presence. Along with her melodious voice, she brings life to the parties. The first time I heard her singing was when a Ramayan pathh was organised at home right after our wedding. It goes on for at least 2 days and the next morning we woke up to her lyrical voice. The comfort her harmonious voice brought to me was like a mother's touch who is caressing her child's forehead while the little one is in deep slumber. In that alien environment, her soothing voice made me feel at home. She has won over many friends with her singing. I only wish she pursued it as more than a hobby. Ma, did I ever tell you how much I love your singing? Please never take this away from yourself or from us!!  She has a zeal for life and is always ready to learn new things, be it browsing the Internet, rewiring the computers or getting those new styles of blouses!! Her excitement in life awaken such positive thoughts in all of us that we are not scared to get old! 
                 Life in not rosy at all times and there have been situations when I felt the need to tell her that there are times when we wish for her to just stand back and let us be. Its the same feeling a child feels towards her parents who sometimes, out of love and concern, over nurture. I believe she does understand that and keeps her distance when needed. In fact she goes a step further and helps my father in law comprehend that.  I thank her for that! Also, in such times, sometimes I might have come across as rather hasty. Did that hurt you Ma? I do want to let you know that I appreciate as well as I am conscious of the fact that sometimes keeping distance must be hard for you. I thank you for those efforts you put in to let me be me. 
                                           Though that is how we are related, I don't primarily see her as "the mother of my husband". The bridge to our relationship is my husband and her son but by not tying ourselves to the expectations of our roles as a "mother in law" and "daughter in law", we have been able to accomplish a competence to be able to reach each other independently, just like two friends would. 
                       In her I see a friend, a friend with whom I share every joke I hear, a friend who I love go to movies with and laugh like silly school girls, a friend with whom I love to shop, a friend who respects my passions, a friend who does not get insecure by my strengths, a friend who is proud to be with me, a friend who is also, incidentally, my mother in law.  

For My Mother

Mom and Dad dearly wanted a girl and all they had was two boys *eye roll* When I entered this world *drum rolls please*  it was a very cold night but my parents filled their hearts with the fruition of their frolic! Mum said she looked at dad while he was busy admiring the baby, she knew this is the girl they always wanted. Both of them would splash me with love just like the ocean with all its fervor, smother the beach with its waves. At times they would stand behind looking tenderly at me, captivated by the charm of the girl they always wanted. Dad brought anklets paayal for me when I started walking. Every jingle and chime of my tiny steps would amuse them. Dad got enamored by his daughter but it was my mother who despite being in this grasp of love was able to see me as an individual who she was determined to raise with a desire to be independent. Hers was tough love. She knew its not a woman's world and she knew in order to survive in this male dominated world, a girl needs to know when to raise her hand and say No. She knew the world we live in sees a woman's worth by the men in her life and hence she knew the importance of having an independent mind, a conscious that would not be easily swayed by popular opinions and would have the ability to chose wisely. Her way of communication made her lovable. Say it with a smile, that was her motto. I remember going with her to the ration stores which were set up by the government to sell grains and sugar at a subsidized price. Like many other things these stores were taken over by crooks who would just send the customer back saying "khatam ho gaya" (its all finished) no matter what date of the month it would be! Mother would never fight them for her share but she used her words judiciously accompanied with a pleasant tone and it was only a matter of minutes that I would see the attitudes shifting from arrogance to diffidence. And then she would carry that big sack of wheat on her shoulders amidst the narrow congested vegetable market with no sign of embarrassment. She didn't care for what people would say, a lady carrying ration on her back while her husband is home, India is like that but she never bothered about the people who ridiculed her. Beside her, I would carry the smaller bag, the one containing sugar and every now and then she would give me a faithful look that said "you and me are in this together" and I would walk quietly trying to keep pace with her confident stride while clutching the sack and observing the onlookers with their judgmental expressions . Mom, with her crystal clear display of strong self confidence, made me what I am today. Her resilience to any and every kind of life situations helped this little girl grow up to be someone who can bear the weight of life as it comes. She didn't preach any life lessons to me because she knew her daughter isn't a mere observer. Her ingenuity at managing the house and the effective ways through which she involved us kids in that process, internalized in me innumerable skills without even trying. I thank her for that.
    And once I became a mother, I realized how much I have really learned  from her.
From a mother to her mother "Happy Mother's Day Mom"

This post goes to the Blogadda contest for Mother's Day!
I would chose this for my mother for the razzle dazzle she never had!

Sharply Thoughtful

I know I know, I said blogging will be sporadic and it turned out to be non existent. Well that's what India vacation is all about, it is not supposed to have days with schedules and routines!! But we are back and so is blogging. My birthday came during our vacation in India and it was a day full of fun and cheers and the night ended with the whole family singing Happy Birthday tunes. There were many highlights of the day but the one that went straight to the heart and etched itself there, was from one and only, Saumya. She was at my brother's place, enjoying with her cousins, till a day before my birthday. I picked her up on my birthday eve so we  are together on birthday morning. She was a bit reluctant to come with me, well its always hard to part when you are having too much fun, or so I thought. On the birthday morning I got a handmade card from her, which she secretly made, I don't know when.

I kept on going ga- ga over this fact that how my 5 year old made a card for me, without me ever knowing about it. Nothing could top it off for the day!
And then around 6 pm, I got a call from my brother and he wanted to speak with Saumya.So I give her the phone but she isn't talking. I ask her why and she says "Mamma can you please go away to another room so I can take this call"
I almost fell off the chair!! But I politely obliged thinking she is just trying to be like me. But this phone calls goes on for whole 10 minutes, well what are these guys talking about and this chatterbox who, for the love of god, cannot talk softly on phone, is almost whispering. So any call, at around 8 pm, my mom and brothers and their families come over to celebrate with us. And instead of greeting me, they find Saumya and after hush hush tones and awkward movements, my 5 year old comes to me with a twinkle in her eyes, the prettiest little smile on her face and a little gift pack in her hands and says "Happy Birthday Mamma, this is for you, from me" I was still trying to take it all in and she said "Open it, open it now!" And so I open it and I find a "vegetable peeling knife" and I am trying to find a reason for that choice, the little voice chirps "Mamma, remember you and me went to TJ Maxx and there was a pretty peeling knife and I asked you to please buy it, though you said it doesn't look safe, I still requested you to buy it because it was so pretty and you did. Do you remember mamma?"
"Unhun, I do remember but......
"Yes, but when you used it, you cut your finger, it injured you and you had to throw it. So that is why I wanted to give you a peeling knife that is safe for you. Happy Birthday Mamma"
Deeply immersed in emotions, my heart almost sank with the thought that this tiny little person  held herself responsible for that little scrape on my finger because she asked me to buy that peeler.
This little soul, requested my brother to buy a peeler when he goes out shopping, so she can gift it to me. I think I need to check the year she was born , yet one more time.
Until today, I have not started using it, I just want to keep it forever and ever. It's the sharpest gift I ever got :-)

Tangy Tuesday Turned Sweet

I am so very pleased to tell you that my post My Shishya : My Guru has been picked up by BlogAdda for their Tangy Tuesday Picks. I say that's pretty sweet way to start a day!
You can applaud now 'taking a bow' Thank you very much!!
You can see the entire list of wonderful posts (including mine, :-))

Diwali.....

Our Diwali was a simple affair celebrated at home with mithai and candles everywhere. Saumya and me did the rangoli. Hope all of you had a lovely time with family and friends.
While relaxing in my lap, after getting tired of eating all the sweets and running around in excitement of lighting up every nook and corner of the house, Saumya had a worrying expression. "Mamma do big people lose teeth?" This was her 4Th or 5Th question since morning revolving around teeth, my mom instinct sprung up and I asked "Saumya, do you have a lose tooth?" The little cute face nodded yes and tears rolled down those Rosy cheeks. While giving me the tightest hug ever, in her little crying voice she said "When this falls out, I will have a hole in the mouth for months. I read about it" But when I told her that this loose tooth means she is growing up and her mouth is getting ready for a grown up tooth now, it became a time for jubilation!
She went to bed happy and anxiously waiting for the time when the little baby pearl with fall out. And I went to bed crying buckets of tears. My baby is growing up so fast. Every little milestone brings two sided emotions. Its gratifying to see her growing up but its scares me, it makes me realize how fast we are getting there when I will be waving her bye with a heavy heart and teary eyes. The day when there will be silence everywhere in the house, no questions will be asked, no tears to wipe, when no one will forget to turn off the lights, when no one will need 100 kisses at night, when no one will need to listen to bed time story. Its only a loose tooth but this one loose tooth told me that we are making memories today, we are an active part of them today but very soon we will only be left with memoirs.

Birthday Wishes That Came True

Few days back it was my sweetheart's birthday. It was celebrated with much fanfare last year. Now, its very difficult to think of a gift for him that would make him feel special. He is a simple man and would be happy if we just jump up and down an say Happy Birthday and give nothing! Really, are all men like that?? He is a foodie in the truest sense. He enjoys as well as relishes food that is cooked well. So how do you make celebrate this man's special day?? During one conversation, I re-realized that he enjoys the food most when there is a lot of variety and he always prefers to order Thali in Indian restaurant. Eureka! That's what I decided to do for him!
When he came to the dinner table, this is what he saw on his placemat.

And This is his thali, very lovingly made by yours truly. It has Dal Bukhara, Stuffed Aloo Kofta, Kurmuri Bhindi, Achari Paneer, kheer, Puri. We also had dahi bhalley which could not fit in this thali! This was the first birthday that we stayed home but it will be the most memorable one. While chopping, stirring and rolling through the day, my mind wandered through the older times when we were not married and we both would imagine our married life, about the birthdays that we would wake up to together, we would smile imagining about the times when I would cook for him and how it could be a disaster but he would still say I love you. This birthday of his made me realize that we are living our dream. What more can we ask for! so, instead of wishing for more, on this birthday, we counted our blessings and of course he counted the number of dishes I made!!

Mother's Day

Hope you all ladies out there had a nice Mother's Day! My beautiful day started when I was sleeping. Well yes, because the other two souls in the house made sure not to make a peep so mamma darling can peacefully snore till she wants to. These well meaning souls didn't know or expect that mamma can really sleep for a very long time, so at 10 a.m they barged in with a big hug, chirpy smile and little hands holding a card written in prettiest handwriting which goes up and down and scatters everywhere like love. 

My 4 year old wrote   "Have Happy Mudurs Day" and then handed me a bag full of lotions and body cremes so your skin can stay as soft as it is. Mamma loves lotions, anything that keeps things smooth, if you know what I mean!

A single cup of tea was served with an announcement that we are going to have breakfast at The Hilton. Oh my, I love being a mother!! And boy did we eat breakfast like a king. Continental breakfast is one of the best ways to start a special day. Bagels, croissants, muffins, pancakes, coffee, tea, fresh juices, fresh cut up fruits, and someone pouring coffee every time your cup goes empty. What's not to love! Just when I thought the treats are over, came another announcement. We are heading to the mall to buy mamma this..........

Being a mother, when comes with perks like this, makes it even more of an exciting job. Father and daughter did a wonderful job making me feel special throughout the day. I had a fabulous day.
Thanks to everyone who sent me emails wishing Mother's Day.

Happy Holi

Holi is a festival of colors, it marks the arrival of spring with flowers blooming everywhere. It also marks the end of winter and also of the spirit of rejuvenation.
I have never been a big fan of Holi,that is the whole water throwing and color spraying, a tilak of gulal and I am done. Try more and you lose me as a friend! My Holi day was spent hiding inside the house watching TV and a knock on the door was enough to send me to the bathroom to stay away from the enthusiastic holi tolis. But I was the first one to request ma to make those pillows stuffed with yummies, yes I am talking about Gujiyas! Celebrations of holi always started with Gujiya's made by mom two days before Holi. Me and my elder brother would do anything to keep ma undisturbed while she is at this labor intensive work. The fruit of her labor was just too good. Bhaiya would start with one and then in 2 hours or so some family member was heard saying "Yes teri biswi hai, bus ker de ab!" (This is your twentieth, stop it already) Mum would find him loitering around the kitchen for "just one more" Ahh, childhood!
Here in States, I don't need to do any efforts to stay away from holi tolis. Infact, may a times its hard to find color and we end up using our daughters washable paint colors!Being in the northeast, Holi is hardly the end of winter(we are going a snow storm right this moment!) My husband, like me is a big fan of Gujiyas. So this year I decided to start the Gujiya making at home, just like ma. I don't like sweets with overpowering sweetness and that's why I keep my Gujiyas simple by not dipping them in sugar syrup.


Oh, in case you are salivating here's the recipe :-)
Ingredients for Filling
Khoya (Mawa) 400 gms
Suji 1/2 cup
Powdered Sugar 2 cups
Raisins a Handful
Cardamom Powder 1 tsp

Crumble or grate khoya. Take a heavy bottomed pan and roast khoya till it turns very light caramel color.You will need to keep stirring it continuously or it will burn! Keep it aside.
Roast Suji the same way. Suji will take much less time than khoya. Keep it aside.
Mix all the above ingredients and your filling is ready.

Tired? Make a cup of tea and relax by the window, enjoy the snow and pray for real spring to show up soon! hmmmmm

For the cover
Maida (All purpose flour) 4 cups
Ghee 3 Tbsp
Water as needed to make a stiff dough

Oil for frying

Melt ghee and rub it with the flour. Work the flour well with your hands so ghee gets mixed in. Take water and make a stiff dough, like you would make for puris and not like chapati dough, which is softer. Cover it with a wet cloth and leave aside for about 30 minutes.

Now go and see if the weather God needs any more pushing!

Work the dough again to make it smooth. Spend about 10 minutes doing this.
Make lemon size balls from the dough and cover them with wet cloth. Now take one ball and roll it like a puri, about 4 inches diameter.
Take 1 tbsp filling, put in the center of the puri.
Moisten the lower edge (the one of your side) of puri with water.
Bring the top edge to the lower edge, in other words fold over the top edge to seal the edges. I use the back of a fork to pinch two layers together which makes those lovely marks while sealing the edges as well.
Now do like this for all dough balls.

I roll out 10 puris at a time, fill them and cover them with wet cloth. And then roll out 10 again and so on....

Now take a heavy bottomed kadai, pour oil for frying. Heat oil, the flame should not be very high or you would get very stiff Gujiyas which have raw dough inside. Keep the flame somewhere between low to medium. Fry two to three gujiyas at a time and let them turn light brown by turning often. Take them out on a paper towel and let them cool. And there you go, Voila! Your Gujiyas are ready. Spring or not, taste from home brings back all the warm memories in every bite and makes all the effort worth.
Once Gujiyas cool down, they can be stored in an air tight container for about 10 days or so. But I don't think you will be able to save them for so long!
Happy Holi!!




image courtesy :holikerang.com

Jai Ho!

Congratulations to A R Rehman for winning 2 Oscars! Jai Ho!

The queen ditched the potato

Aloo Gobhi , potato cauliflower dish is one of the popular dished from India. It works well as a side dish or by itself. The king likes it a lot. So this is a regular dish in the kingdom, made once every week. The queen likes it for the ease and how quick it is to make. Now that's all good for regular days but when the kingdom is all noisy with anniversary fanfare, this everyday dish doesn't suffice. So for tonight's dinner queen picked only the cauliflower and abandoned the potato. This dish is aptly called Shahi Gobhi, where Shahi means fit for the king!!

Ingredients

Cauliflower, cut into florets - 1 Head
Potato - None! Gotcha!
Yogurt - 1 cup
Turmeric - 1/2 tsp
Cumin Powder - 1 tsp
Coriander Powder - 1 tsp

In a large bowl mix yogurt with turmeric, cumin powder and coriander powder. Put cauliflower florets and toss around to coat well. leave it aside for at least 20 minutes. If you have time, you can leave it for up to 4 hours to let the cauliflower absorb all the flavors well. I did it for 20 minutes.
Cook this marinated cauliflower in microwave on high for about 6 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes.

Ingredients for Gravy
Tomatoes - 2
Onion - One
Green Chillies - 2
Ginger - about half inch
Turmeric - 1/2 tsp
Red Chili Powder - 1/2 tsp
Sugar - 1 heap tsp (This is to cut the tang from yogurt and tomatoes)
Heavy Creme - 2 tbsp
Cardamom Power - 1 tsp
Salt - To taste

While your Gobhi marinates, blend the tomatoes with onion, green chillies and ginger
into a smooth paste. You can make it richer by adding a handful of cashews and blending them with the tomato onion paste.


Heat Oil in a pan and add the above paste to it.
Let it cook over medium flame for 15-20 minutes, stirring in between.
Leaving aside heavy creme,add the rest of the gravy ingredients and stir and cook for few more minutes.



Add the cooked cauliflower to this gravy.
Mix it with a light hand while taking care not to break the florets. the gravy should coat the cauliflower well. Now add heavy creme, cardamom powder and salt and cook it for another 5-7 minutes.

And your Shahi Gobhi is ready. Serve it with your choice of Indian Bread.











This goes to the Vegetarian Thanksgiving Event hosted by Mansi

And the king found his queen

Love is in the air. Braving the chill , fingers woven into each other's hand, lending just the right warmth, with a gleam in the eyes they are trying to find the perfect gift. He has given her everything she could ever dream of but this is the time of the year when his heart overflows with love and he wants to find just the thing to express and to see her eyes widened with a smile that says "oh I love it". To see her at ease , he can do anything for her. He cracks silly jokes to make her smile, he will happily eat popcorn for dinner so she can relax, he would brave the cold if she forgets her jacket, he slips out of the room quietly if she is sleeping, he gladly watches chic flicks for her, he goes for aimless shopping for hours where she doesn't know what she wants but she really wants something nice, when she comes back after dropping off their daughter to school he welcomes her with a hot cup of tea, he  always lets her have the window seat in the airplane, he tells her every single day that she is the most beautiful girl, he always holds the door for her. He loves her cooking but there are times when she creates a disaster in the kitchen while trying something new, he pats her back for giving it a try and then brings dinner and by being what he is, he  just keeps her in awe all the time. He is her king, as she lovingly addresses him many times.
They got married eight years ago but have been together since eighteen years. He is the best thing that has happened to her, looking back, she would not change anything. 
As we celebrate our anniversary this week, I wanted to thank my man for being who he is.  I know he also has a lot to say about me and but to do that, he will have to start his own blog! I wish us many more years to enjoy the beautiful relationship we have nurtured together.
A Happy Anniversary to Us.

image courtesy : www.activerain.com

UN Day

Maria Montessori witnessed two world wars which made her a proponent of world peace and she is often described as "citizen of the world". Peace education is an important part of Montessori curriculum that is imparted right from the preschool stage when the mind is still absorbent and has no preconceived notions about other cultures. Children learn about continents and countries of the world and also about the lifestyles of people living there. Festivals throughout the world are celebrated int he classroom with the help of parents participation. Keeping up with the same spirit of global education, Our daughter's school celebrated United Nations Day yesterday. It was a family event with potluck dinner where every family brought a dish representing their homeland, then there was Parade of Nations where everyone dressed up in their traditional clothes and went down the aisle and then on the stage to greet the crowd in their native language. This was followed by cultural performances from India, China, Taiwan, France and Iran. The head of the school concluded the evening beautifully with the song "This land is your land, this land is my land" while playing along the guitar.
PARADE OF NATIONS












DANCE FROM INDIA



DANCE FROM CHINA


DANCE FROM TAIWAN


FENCING REPRESENTING FRANCE



DANCE FROM IRAN


HEAD OF SCHOOL PLAYING GUITAR

I can read!

Saumya, the life in our life,  the girl who will turn 4 next month, the girl who was inside me less than four years ago, a life form which we saw through the ultrasound monitor, trusting the words of the doctor that the little blob on the screen is actually our baby, a life who was sucking her thumb in the next ultrasound visit and we came to know the thumb sucker is a girl (yay!), the girl who came into the world 10 days earlier than expected, a girl whose face melted me to the core and changed me forever, a girl who didn't know how to sleep, how to eat, how to talk and walk, who couldn't make any sense of this world, I am so proud to tell everyone, this little gem of ours has started reading!! Ms. C, her Montessori teacher, is helping her realize this capability and has been sending books home so Saumya can read those to us. Last night when she finished reading an 8 page reader, I was so full of awe, "Mamma what's the matter with you, why are you smiling so much, what are you happy about?" Clearly, I couldn't hide my emotions and tears rolled down.  Saumya, the individual she is, hugged me so tight and I told her that I am just so very happy that she can read. It's one of those things that hold a special place in my heart. I remember a day in my childhood when the lady who used to deliver milk bottles to us at 5 in the morning, she came with her 10 year old daughter. I was six years old and was enjoying my summer vacation, sitting outside early in the morning and reading newspaper to my mother. The milk lady saw me reading and gave so many blessings while her 10 year old looked at me with an alien expression. Reading, for her, was a far fetched thought, for they couldn't afford school. That expression pierced me and I felt as if I have an undue advantage, a privilege which could easily have not been!! 6 is a young age but the contrast right in your face, makes you mature faster I guess. I felt like sharing my treat with her, to let her taste the delicacy I am enjoying and I requested my mother and the milk lady to let me help Manju, the milk lady's daughter. And there began mine and Manju's journey into the world where letters were not just a lifeless mass of ink rather they had the power to make us laugh or for that matter, cry! Seeing Manju's journey to literacy and then onto later getting admitted in a school and then taking a job later in life was such an exhilarating experience. Manju, helped me understand my self, she kindled the desire in me to become a teacher, a kindergarten teacher, so I can help sow the literacy skills right when the soil is ripe.

Now, seeing my own daughter reading , who is not yet 4, who doesn't yet know the paramount significance of literacy skill, fills me with pride and joy. You go girl!

image courtsey : www.atimetostitch.com

Halloween Lady Bug

Little Pleasures

Sometimes little things in life itch so bad like that bug bite that you know for sure would go away but can't help scratching it which in turn makes it even bigger of an itch. And these little things are also the ones that bring everyday pleasures and make life worth living. This past Friday, me and my husband achieved a milestone, it's pretty personal, but we still like to share with everyone the knowledge that we have finally reached a place for which the journey was embarked more than seven years ago. I would not say this journey was all pleasant but it can't be called a sordid tale as well. It was a bumpy ride and we got lot's of bruises on the way and now it's over so we can start another one! All is well that ends well. Life goes on, bugs come and go! Friday, August 15 was India's Independence Day also and reaching a milestone that particular day made us feel even more special. Thanks to everyone for the loving wishes.
Now if you are a regular here, you must know by now that my darling husband is a cookies and cake lover. So to celebrate the occasion I baked Coconut Cookies inspired by Mansi.
















I omitted the icing part though. They came out very well, my preschooler got one after her dinner and munching a mouthful she asked "What is this mamma? There is no chocolate, I only like chocolate cookies" and all this while she just couldn't stop eating it! Dad is no different, he loves everything that is baked in the oven and more than any cookie or cake I enjoy the oooh and aaahs these two people shower me with for the food I bring to the table.

A king was born today

OK, tomorrow but the title so aptly fits otherwise and I am so eager to share this with all of you!
Disclaimer: Souls who like to call themselves mature and grownups in this matter might not like this post. Proceed at your own risk! I can't stop laughing, its so much fun to put these legal sounding text! Hey you are still reading? Welcome to the birthday club!
I love birthdays, any one's birthday provided I know them. Sometimes I am more excited than the birthday person. But I must say of all the people I know , I am most excited on dear husband's birthday, way more excited than he is and much more excited than I am on my birthday. Gratitude for all he keeps doing for us just permeates me and I feel like bringing the world down to him. I keep thanking my MIL in my heart on his birthday for giving birth to such a winsome soul. He is a simple man who loves humor, so easy to please and is a joy to be with. He is an adventurous foodie who can try out anything. Once at a corporate dinner at a Belgian Restaurant, after browsing through the menu he realized there was nothing vegetarian! He asked the waitress if they have any chicken dish coz that's one thing he can manage, she said I will check and what came to the table was rabbit as that was the meat they had which could closely match the flavor of chicken. And this man of mine ate it, loathed every bite but still came back home smiling! I am so glad I wasn't with him at that dinner, that would have been a sure shot way of losing the smile! Food makes me happy and boy can it make me upset!
Tomorrow is his birthday and I know even if I cook a rabbit or for that matter nothing, he will say he had a wonderful day. This post goes out to my husband to say Thank you for being who you are. We are so excited to celebrate him, we started the party one day early. Here's what we had on the preview day.
His favorite Banana Bread.
















A fruity summer salad for his office lunch. This is an easy breezy no cooking involved dish. One small can of each kidney beans and garbanzo beans. Cut the fruits of your choice or whatever you have in the fridge. I raided the fridge and found pear, apricot, plum, radish and crunchy cukes. Chop all the produce and mix with the beans. For the spicy twist I added red hot pepper relish and we ended up really loving it. Sprinkle dried mint for that fresh summery flavor, add salt as per your taste and squeeze juice of half a lemon. I also added chat masala for that tangy Indian kick. It was a hit with everyone including our preschooler who is turning into this girl who boosts her ego with spicy tangy food. See, I am not a baby, I can eat spicy!


















And Besan Ladoo to welcome him back home from work to kick off the birthday eve. Happy Birthday!



















Who ate that one ladoo from the bowl? Looks like the party has started, see you later!