Shopping ...shopping and some more shopping...

The past weekends have been spent shopping since both my siblings are getting married next month...

Unlike many of my good friends, I am not very fond of shopping...but sometimes I do get roped in to go along with friends since they seem to think that I have good taste... especially when it comes to sarees.. 

I will let you in on my secret... I never pick a thing just so I have to wear something for an occasion... I always pick a saree only when I really like it ..and if I don't find one that fits the bill, I come off empty handed and wear something I already have.. Thankfully, this time I did not have to make do, and have got some lovely additions to my collection.

I am quite indifferent to salwar kameezes and that really shows..!!! there are some days when I feel positively dowdy in them ...

Anyway, while I was doing some window shopping in the beginning of my shopping spree, I clicked some pictures and thought I could share them with you.. though my taste runs to slightly less rich work than these.......how can one NOT like sarees???

A chicken pie

Wow.. I am sooo busy now-a-days that I did not realise it has been 5 days since I last posted.

This is something I made a week or so back. I made it the help of the wondorous creation called Aloo Mash..!! That is mashed potatoes in flakes ...

 Minced Chicken - 250 gms - hold it till last

Garlic - 3 to 4 cloves (chopped fine)

Onion - 1 large (finely chopped)

Tomatoes - 2 medium (finely chopped)

Turmeric powder - a pinch

Red chilly powder - 1 tsp

Capsicum - 1/2 (finely chopped)

Salt to taste

Grated cheeses - 1 tbsp (I used cheddar)

Oregano - 1/2 tsp

In a wok saute all the ingredients from garlic onwards till oregano and finally add the minced chicken till all the water is absorbed and chicken is nearly done.

 To the mash, I added ,

Mash flakes - 1 and 1/2 cup

Chicken stock - 1/2 cup

Milk - 1 tbsp

Grated cheese - 2 tbsp

dried thyme - 1/2 tsp

Oregano - 1 tsp

Salt to taste

Pepper - according to taste

Now in a baking tray, grease well and layer the minced chicken then add the mashed potatoes on top. Lightly brish the top with melted butter to brown the potato crust. Bake at 180 C for about 20 - 30 minutes. Serve hot with tabasco/ tomato sauce.

Cherupayar mezhukkupuratty - (green grams/lentils)

I had'nt realised that I had not posted this dish. I have made this so many times, that it was a big surprise when I checked my blog and found that i hadn't posted this so far. I have a large number of photos from the various times I had prepared it though.. but this is from when I made it two days back. 

 

It is one of my favourites because it is very tasty, easy to prepare and you can have it even with tea. In tamil nadu, along with half a cup of grated coconut, it becomes 'sundal'. I live it even more than before because my daughter also likes it. I make it a little less spicy now-a-days because of her.

Sometimes it is better to soak the green gram for a half hour or so before cooking. 

Green gram - 1 and 1/2 cups 

Water - 2 and 1/2 cups

Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp

Green chillies - 2 (sliced)

Pressure cook the lentils for 3 whistles. Once the steam is gone, open the lid and keep aside.

Onion - 1 large (peeled and diced)

Curry leaves - 1 stalk

Red chillies - 2 

Oil - 2 tbsp

In a wok, heat oil, saute the onion till lightly brown, add the curry leaves and red chillies . Add the cooked lentils and wait till the remaining water evaporates. Now add the salt and mix well. 

Take off the fire and enjoy.

Beetroot pachadi - in coconut and curd gravy

This is a very flavourful curry and really great during the summers....

Beetroot - 2 medium (peeled and cut into small cubes)

Green chillies - 2 (slit)

Boil the beetroot and green chillies , add a pinch of turmeric and red chilli powder. 

Grind together

Coconut - 2 tbsp

Mustard seeds - 1 tsp

Jeera powder - 1/2 tsp

Add the ground coconut and boil . Take off the fire . Add 1 cup of beaten curd . Add salt to taste.

For tempering -

Heat oil - 

Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp

Red chillies - 2

Curry leaves - 1 tsp

My First Mother's Day Card

I got my first Mother's day card... This is something that my little darling made for me at her pre-school on friday. And she did not let me look at it till some time today...

Not that she had any idea the card was for me... it is the same story whenever she gets something special from school..she never lets anyone peek at it until the novelty wears off and she finally drops it somewhere . 

I would have posted a picture of the inside, but that would have not served any purpose .. It had words printed and pasted inside.. but by the time the card got in my hands,it was missing ... one of these days I will find it from inside her very deep toy basket, or her tiny bags stuffed to the gills with everything from toys to toffee wrappers ,hair  clips and anything that strikes her fancy at that moment.. 

I am amazed when I realise I am a MOM...and yet, I cannot remember what I did with my life 3 short years ago...

Hope all you Moms out there had a good day....

Tagged - Again !!

I got this graphic from Coloraddiction, and she has also been tagged the same as me, by June from Cen's Loft.

So without further ado, I am getting right down to it....

8 things I am looking forward to -

1. My Sister's wedding
2. My brother's wedding
3. Our 9th wedding Anniversary 
4. Spending time with my loved ones during the annual leave
5. Visiting all my favourite temples
6. my mom's cooking
7. Seeing some new places
8. Meeting new people

8 things I did yesterday - 

1. Made milk/coffee for everyone.
2. Made breakfast
3. Got my baby ready and took her to playschool
4. Made lunch
5. Brought her back
6. Played with her between making snacks and making dinner
7. Read two novels by David Gimmel
8. Caught CSI on AXN

8 things I wish I could do -

1. Settle in one place ,at a reachable distance from my folks 
2. Have a dedicated area for all my art and craft
3. Be a better baker 
4. Visit atleast one new place a year
5. Build a home according to MY ideas - (I have a lot)
6. See all my friends and family happy and healthy
7. Have a big library with all the books I would love to read
8. Find my hubby the best post (job)easily commutable from home

8 things that or shows I have watched - 

1. CSI - Los Angeles, NY, Miami
2. Bones
3. Friends
4. Vaasthu 
5. Oprah
6. Seinfeld
7. Idea Star Singer
8. Nigella Lawson

8 people I tag in my turn - 

1. Joanna - Applique Today
   
2. Muse - A Diva's Hammer
3. Arundati - Escapades
4. Raaga - the Singing Chef
5. Nancy - Nancy's arts, crafts and favorites
6. Nicole - Beadwright
7. Kala - The Artsy Crafter
8. Patty - Attic Clutter

Hope you guys have fun.. I liked it