A tip to a mother

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

To feed a correct food to a child is a universal problem for a mother. Till the child understands the importance of food, and starts having without any fuss, mother faces lot of challenges. She plays many tricks to feed the child.

Being mother of two kids, till today, I am going through this difficult phase. My daughter who is 7 years old also has the problem. She eats every thing I give her, but she takes one hour to finish her food. (Some times more than one hour). And the second one, who is 2 years old, she never feels hungry. Her attention is always towards playing, writing, and troubling me and her sister. 

(This is old photo. I have exchanged the net with big basket net now!)

But from past 15 days, I observed that she is coming her self and asking for "mammam" (she says for food). And she eats her food in no time!!! (Touch Wood!!)

(A tiny slide for both of them to play)

I was thinking what is the reason behind this? Then I realized that from past 15 days, me and my elder daughter go for jogging in our compound only.(Luckily, we have ground in our compound only, which is surrounded by trees.)  And the little one follows us. She does some bending exercise with us! She wants to join us in skipping. She loves to play basket ball with us! Thats making her feel hungry for whole day!

(And, today, after one week, when my mother returned from Delhi,  Phalguni took her out for jogging, and to play basket ball!!!!!!!)

So the tip to all mothers is,

Once your child (2 years and above) gets up in the morning, let him/her play for sometime. It should not be more than 10 minutes all together. If you do not have ground, child can run in the house only. Make her touch all the room door knobs and come back to you. It will be fun to play like that. Or if you can join, that will be more fun. Then see the difference.

I know it is difficult or impossible for working mother! It is just a general tip. 

I am not a medical professional. If any one is from medical field, and thinks it is not good for child of that age!, please let me know!

This is just my experience I am sharing with all.

Keep smiling,

Multi purpose boxes from my daughter!

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi all,

Two more art work from my elder daughter Rajul.  

Few years back, I always used to throw the boxes, when ever I bought the things. But now a days I keep those for my daughter's art work. I keep the boxes for 2 -3 months. I will throw it out, if  I do not get any idea what to make out of that.

Last month, I bought the tea cup set and kept the box in the store room. Now as Rajul has school holidays, I asked her what she wants to make of that. She told, that she will use it to keep her clips, rubber bands. 

I asked her "shall we decorate with the colorful laces" She was not ready for that. She wanted to paint the box. Then I thought if we do spray painting using old tooth brush, it will look nice. and for the border I told her to use her little finger. 

So, here it is infront of you the art work fully done by her. I was just sitting beside her taking the tissue paper to wipe the paint, when ever she spilled the water or the paint.

This box can be used as Jewelery box, or hair accessories box or if you make it stand, you can keep small dolls. or if you remove one middle row, it can be used as doll house! The choice is yours!!

The next art is again the multi purpose box. It is made with old bangles.( all collection is from my mother's ward robe.) Go on keeping the bangles on a hard board (any shape) with the help of fevicol.

You can use it as pencil stand! or pen stand or to keep your visiting cards.

Just few sentences about my younger daughter Phalguni. (Rajul is feeling bad that I am not writing anything about her!!) Phalguni is only 2 years old. The whole day she will be writing in the book, with her sister's pencil or my pen. She wants only the things which her sister uses. So the whole day fighting will be on in my house.

And one more thing is, she will be singing the whole day in her language!!! 

I am sending this to Srivalli's First Blog Anniversary with Kids Delight!

Keep smiling,

what are these called in English?

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

I have 2 questions about these below vegetables in the photo. I want to know what are these called in English.

I browsed many sites, trying many words, but could not get the answer.

                                                            Kaarchi kai

I do not know the English name of the vegetable in the photo, but in North Karnataka, we call it "Kaarchi kai"(Kannada). It tastes like bitter gourd. It is available only in the rainy season. It is having crunchy seeds. It is having tails on both the sides, need to be removed before we cook. One more thing to keep in mind is, if it is exposed to direct sun, it will open and split and the seeds will come out. Then you can not cook it. (Click here  for my recipe)

One more question for below leafy vegetable! I do not know what it is called in English, We call it Kirakasali in Kannada. (click here for my recipe)

                                                                      Kiraksali

It looks like Rajgiri leaves. Only difference is it is having while colour seeds on it's stem.(you can see in the photo below!)
In Harsha Bennur's blog(http://girmitt.wordpress.com/2008/07/25/roasted-kirkasaali-tandulsa/), he has given the name as Tandulsa, I do not know which language it is.

If any one knows the English names for these, please let me know!

Keep smiling,

Award and Jowar rotti upma(ಕುಚ್ಚಿದ ರೊಟ್ಟಿ )

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi all,

After long time, I am again with North Karnataka recipe. This was very common in our house during our childhood. Almost twice a week, my mother used to prepare this in the night. As it is very simple and fast, it was easy for her to keep the dinner ready, after coming tired from the office. And we all enjoyed to eat it hot with ghee, pickle and onion. In typical North Karnataka(especially in Hubli-Dharwad language) language, we call it as Rotti oggarane(ರೊಟ್ಟಿ ಒಗ್ಗರಣೆ).

Here is the recipe,
One day old rotti or crispy rotti - 8 to 10
(Click Jowar rotti(Jolada rotti) for recipe)
Onion - 1 big
Curry leaves - few
Chilly powder - 1 tbsp or
Green chilly - 3 chopped
(in this photo I used chilly powder)
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Jeera - 1 tsp
Tomato - 1 small
(my mother used to put 1 tbsp tamarind paste, you can choose according to your taste)
Salt to taste
Haldi - 1 pinch
Water - 1 cup apprx.
Break the rotti into pieces and keep aside.
Heat oil in a kadai, add mustard when it starts popping up, add jeera and curry leaves. Add onions and saute for a minute.
If you are using green chilly, now only add it with onion.
When the onion changes its color, add tomato mix it properly and wait till the tomato is half cooked. Add salt, haldi and water .

Once the water starts boiling, add the rotti pieces. Mix properly. Take care not to put more water.

Cook for few minute, stirring in between.

Jowar rotti upma is ready to eat with ghee, onion and pickle.

I have received this award from *sangi* 

Thank you so much Sangi.

This award goes with a fun meme which has to be passed onto 6 of ur favorite blogs and which has to be answered with only one word.

Here is the meme part: 

• Where is ur cell phone : Bed
• Ur hair:black
• ur mother: Sarojini
• Ur father: Mohan
• Ur fav food: Raw
• Ur dream last night:Forgets
• Ur fav drink:Carrot Orange Juice
• Ur dream:Live one day at a time
• Wat room u r in:Bedroom
• Ur hobby:Reading
• Ur fear:snakes
• Where do u want to be in 6 yrs:India
• Where r u last night:home
• Where did u grow up:Karnataka
• Last thing u did: watched movie
• Ur t.v:Off
• Ur pets:no
• Ur friends:very few
• Ur life:Simple
• Ur mood:Confused
• Missing some one:My freedom
• Vehicle:yes
• Something u r not wearing: Finger ring
• Ur fav store:Many
• Ur fav color: Green
• When was the last time u laughed:Just now!
• Last time u cried: Forgot
• Ur best friend:Books
• One place I go over and over:Nothing special
• One person who emails me regularly: Bhavana
• Fav place to eat: Dining Table

I would like to share this award with,

Sanghi
PJ 
Srivalli 
shanthi
Padma 
Malar


Keep smiling,

Moong Salad

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi all,

Here is my favorite food. I am ready to eat this any time, any day! I can stay with this for more than week, just changing few ingredients and small portion of chapati. 

The grains used here can be either partially cooked or even raw. Raw will taste better. But if you are not used for raw food, it is good to cook it in a microwave for one minute and use it.

The recipe is here,

Green moong - 1 cup 

Yellow moong(Whle moth bean, madaki kalu in Kannada) - 1 cup

Fenugreek seeds(Methi seeds) - 2 tbsp

Cucumber - 1 small (chopped into very small pieces)

Carrot - 1 small (grated)

Fresh coconut(grated) - 1/4 cup or less

Salt to taste

Green chilly - 1 chopped(skip this if you are giving it to kids)

Lime juice - 1 tbsp

Soak both the moong and fenugreek seeds  in water overnight. Remove the water. Keep them tied in the muslin cloth for a day to sprout the moongs(or if you know any other way to sprout it , follow it!)

Wash the beans(moong) with fresh water.

Keep it in microwave for 2 to 3 minutes or till the beans are 3/4th cooked. (Skip this step if you want to have it raw!!)

Take it out in a bowl. Add all other ingredients. Mix it properly. Adjust the seasoning.

Salad is ready to serve.

I am sending this salad to Naked Grains Recipe Challenge — Try your hand at a grain salad

Keep smiling,

Must try foods of Indian States!

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

When I read about the event  A Taste Of The Write Taste, hosted by sra of (when my soup came alive), I thought it is not my cup of tea, as I am far away from proper English to put my thoughts in to words and then in to blog!! I did not think about it much, But!! I think, the thought was always in the corner of my mind. Then suddenly, I remembered that, last month when I was browsing for my daughter's project work,(I was searching for only the out line of Indian map to take the print out)  I came through this blog, I kept it in my draft, so that I may use it in the future. As I am a very much food lover, and loves to try all the food on this earth!, I thought, If I go for All India Tour, I can take this map with me, and try all the dishes out there!!!
And here it is now!!  In this, the map is really very interesting and informative also. (http://www.himadventures.net/outdoor_forums/sites/default/files/indian_food.jpg) Zoom the map and check it out!!

 

HIMADVENTURES is trademark for safe and secure adventure and outdoor travel in Himalayas of Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Zanskar, Lahaul Spiti, Uttarakhand, Kashmir and Sikkim..... To read more,  click 

http://www.himadventures.net. ,
There are several links where this map is shown, I could  not make out which is  the original source. 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Food_map_of_India.jpg
http://dripfin.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/untitled.jpg+
I hope, this  will not come into copycat category!
If any one knows about the original source of this! Please let me know, I will post it accordingly.

I hope this post will get through the rules of  the event!! 

So, here it is going to 

A Taste Of The Write Taste (An Eventful Anniversary, In The Write Taste), hosted by sra of (when my soup came alive),

Keep smiling,

Chapatis and guessing game remixed for the event

Tried and tasted by Nivedita
Hi All,

For Sireesha's (Kidz Delight) event  "Announcing Cooking for Kids Event- Wheat", I thought of remixing my two recipes!!  As the event is for kids,I feel it is perfect entry. 

Cooking for kids event is authored by Sharmi of Neivedyam.

So after Food Remake, I have started the remixing (like bollywood remix of songs!!!!) of my recipes!!  

To prepare chapatis,

For Chapati

Wheat flour - 2 cups
Soya flour - 3/4 cup

Salt- 1 tsp

Oil- 1 tbsp

For spread

Wheat flour -5 tbsp

Oil to make paste.

Mix wheat flour and oil to make paste to spread on the chapatis.

Add both the flours, salt and oil in a vessel and knead it with water to make dough. Keep it aside at least for half an hour.

While making chapatis, divide dough in to large lime size balls.

Take one ball, roll it puri size. Spread the paste. Sprinkle little flour. fold it to half. Again spread the paste and sprinkle flour and fold it to triangle.

Now roll chapati into desired shape (mine usually comes triangle shape, if I don't give attention while rolling).

Heat tawa in high flame, when frying chapatis, do on medium flame. Never fry chapatis on low flame, as it makes chapatis hard.

Repeat with other chapatis.

No need to put oil while frying.

Chapatis are ready.

Now the remix part!

A very simple, tasty and easy rolls for kids. I like too. These rolls were, our (my brother Avinash and mine) favourites during school time. It was easy for my mother also.

Now I give to my daughter, but with little guessing game, and she loves to play it.


Chapatis - 6

sugar - 3 tbsp
Jaggery powdered - 3 tbsp
Peanut and dalia chutney powder -3 tbsp(For Recipe click Peanut chutney powder(Shenga Chutney))

(If you don't have, no problem. You can use MTR READY CHUTNEY POWDER).

Ghee to apply for above.

Any jam - 3 tbsp
Butter - 1 tbsp
Chocolate spread - 3 tbsp(I use Nutella)
Cheese spread - 3 tbsp(I use Knorr cheese spread)

Or you can use Mayonnaise also.

Take 3 chapatis on the plate.
Apply 2 tbsp ghee on each chapati.
Spread sugar on one chapati, jaggery powdered on another and chutney powder on the third.
Roll and keep ready.
These 3 rolls we used to have in childhood.
Next rolls I have added according to today's kids world.

Take 3 more chapatis on plate.
Apply butter on one chapati, and then spread jam. Spread Chocolate spread on other and cheese spread on the third one.
Roll and keep ready.
Now keep all the rolls on a big plate.

Here the guessing game starts. If you have more than one kid, its more interesting. Even your kid's friends can join.

Call the children and ask them to guess in which roll what is there. Whoever guesses correct, they will get reward.

What I do with my daughter is,
I take any three rolls, keeping in mind to make one chocolate roll in that.

I tell her to take two rolls, and if the chocolate roll is not there in that, as she loves to eat chocolate roll, all the three chapatis will disapear in to her stomach in no time. My purpose to give her chapatis without taking any trouble is served.

As I have written above,

This is going to take part in Sireesha's (Kidz Delight) event  "Announcing Cooking for Kids Event- Wheat"

Keep smiling,

My daughter's corner

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,        

A lovely thought from Srivalli  of Spice your Life.

Having kids at home, makes you more creative and active. My daughter keeps me on toe, asking 100 questions at a time. She wants to participate in everything, let it be dance, singing, painting, Abacus and many more things. And it comes to me to see that she has to manage all the things with her studies. 

She has given many dance shows when she was just 5 years old. She participates  in all the cultural programs and competitions in the school. 

                       

                        Rajul  drew and colored when she was in U KG. 

                                                                     

         Rajul's hand made card on  Teacher's day when she was in U KG.

        Rajul's sand work(I helped only to draw the flowers) with glittered  painting.

She loves to cook also, she prepared her first omelet when she was 6 years,(under my supervision!) 

I am posting few of her art works, which she did when she was in UKG(Now she is in 2nd grade). Now a days she is collecting coins from all the possible countries, and pasting them in a book with the country details. And she is more busy in playing outside,(Cycling, basketball, ring etc;) And she really takes good care of her little sister. 
Her sense of humor is also very good. (Check here, Life and Laugh again!, Life and Laugh)

Am I  too proud of her??????

But I think she deserves it!!!!

When it comes to eating, she is little fussy about the food, but she loves to eat home made food and Ice cream. 

I am sending this to Srivalli's First Blog Anniversary with Kids Delight!

Keep smiling,

Palak Dal

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All

It is so easy to prepare food, when some one is guiding you!! That's why I enjoy very much when ever I follow other blog and cook any dish. And I post it in 'Food Remake' label, as it is very common in Indian film industry to remake the movies from one language to the other. So even my food here is the remake one!!!

One more delicious dal from Maria of  Marias Menu for my Food Remake.

Check out the recipe here, 

(http://www.mariasmenu.com/vegetarian/dal-palak)

I never prepared so tasty palak dal before!! 

I substituted the  milk and fresh cream for coconut milk. 

Enjoy with hot rotis, Chapatis or Rice!!!

Keep smiling,

 

Ridge gourd curry

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi all,

My imagination or creation of water animals with ridge gourd and other ingredients used in this recipe.  

All credit goes to Nithya!!! who encouraged me to try and garnish the dish. Here is the second recipe where I really put myself to think  to bring these photos in front of you all.  I hope you all will like it!!

Ridge gourd is one vegetable, which I do not make often!! I do not like it, if it is half cooked!!! 
In my in law's house , they prepare it like this only.

This recipe goes well with chapati as well as hot rice.

Here is the recipe,

Ridge gourd - 2 medium, washed, peeled and cut in to small pieces

Onion - 1 small, chopped

Tomato - 1 big, chopped

Garlic - 1 bulb, peeled and crushed

Curry leaves - few

Chana - 1/4 cup soaked

Mustard seeds - 1 tsp

Jeera  -1 tsp

Chilly powder - 1 tbsp

Dhania powder - 1 tbsp

Haldi - 1 tsp

Salt to taste

Oil - 2 tbsp

Heat oil in a small cooker, add mustard, jeera. When they splutter add curry leaves, onion. Saute for a minute. Add crushed garlic, fry till golden brown. Add soaked chana, and ridge gourd. Mix it properly. Add tomato, and other dry powders. Add little water and give 2 whistles. When done, churn with churner or blender. Adjust the seasoning. Serve hot with chapati or rice.

This is specially going to  Nithya and Pavithra's  "Garnish the dish" event.

Keep smiling,

Banana Fry

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

 I was surprised when I got a comment from Smitha, that she is not getting the recipe for Banana fry. I posted it in the month of March only.

Here is the recipe again!

Raw Banana - 1 big

Fine semolina(sooji) - 1/4 cup

Haldi - 1/2 tsp

Dhania powder - 1 tsp

Red chilly powder - 1tsp

Salt to taste

Oil - 1tsp

Oil - 2 tbsp

Mustard seeds - 1 tsp

Curry leaves - few

Wash the banana and pat dry. Cut in to thick circles. Mix semolina, 1 tsp oil and other dry powders in a bowl. Add the banana pieces. Mix it properly and keep it at least for half an hour.

Now add oil in thick bottomed kadai. When hot, add mustard seeds till they start spluttering, and curry leaves. Add the marinated banana pieces. Mix it properly and fry till the banana are cooked or turn in to golden color.

Serve as side dish with hot rice and sambhar.

Keep smiling,