Diwali

Diwali in a Jar

November 2, 2013 MysTri Mum6 Comments

Every year,for Diwali,I host a one-dish potluck party.This year,thanks to my non-existing Diwali spirits,I didn’t plan anything. SD wanted a celebration,but I was in no mood for it. So, we accepted the invitations to others’ parties and so instead of playing hostess,I am playing guests 🙂 And that means,I get to bring them presents and that I get to create those presents*rubs her hands in glee*.

Now,everyone who knows me,know I love glass jars.I absolutely adore them. So I got a couple of Glass jars and filled them up with sweet and savory Diwali treats,tied a ribbon to the neck of each jar.And I am wishing someone gifted one of these to me 😀

I put a small square of baking paper between each layer.

This is the top-most layer-something sweet to start your Diwali with and it ain’t Diwali,if there are no lights,correct?
If you are looking for a last minute gift,look no more 🙂
Oh,just in case,you are wondering,everything in the Jar is out-sourced,but the packaging was done by me..:P
Happy Diwali and Prosperous New year,peeps 🙂

Peanut Barfi- Traditional and healthier versions

November 1, 2013 MysTri MumLeave a comment

Its that time of the year..time to flick through the photo-copied version of my mom’s recipe book.Its so nice to see her handwritten recipes-its almost like she is telling me what to do..it also fills my heart with so much yearning for what could’ve been…There is so much more,I want to say about this..but today its time for the recipe..after all Diwali is almost here.So,here’s my mum’s Peanut barfi..I still remember nutty taste from so many years ago,as if I just ate it yesterday.
Here’s Mom’s recipe :

2 cups of wheat flour

2 cups of gram flour

1 cup of peanuts,

3 1/2 cups sugar

3/4 cup ghee

1 cup water

Preparation:
Roast the peanuts,remove the skin and grind it coarsely or finely as you like.
Melt some ghee in a pan and roast gramflour and wheat flour,one by one.

Take the sugar and water in a heavy bottom pan and bring it to a boil and then simmer for another 5 minutes,till you have a thick syrup.

Add the dry ingredients to the syrup and mix it properly,breaking the lumps if any.
If your mix looks dry,sprinkle some milk on it and mix again.
Spread this mix on a greased plate and mark the squares to cut into pieces.Let it set and then using a sharp knife,cut out the pieces,you already marked.
Now,take a bite of the yummy nutty treat.

Now for my healthier version:

1/2 cup wheat flour

1/2 cup gram flour

1/4 cup peanuts

6-8 tbsp ghee

1/2 cup sugar

3 tbsp water.

Do everything exactly the same way and you will still get around 18-20 slices of yumminess 🙂

Wish you all a very happy Diwali and a prosperous New Year!

Craft · Diwali · Weight-Loss

Today-Day 15

November 15, 2012 MysTri MumLeave a comment

We had a beautiful day today.The weather was just right for a walk and that’s exactly what I did. After breakfast,just before Ananya’s nap-time,I put her the pram and went for a walk. I took the big heavy pram on purpose,so as to get extra workout.
And as I was walking I realized that the last few times that I walked that way,pushing a pram was,when I was at least 15 if not 20 kgs heavier..and that realization made me feel so good.But it also hit me that I worked SO hard at the beginning of the year all the way till June..and then life got in the way and it was easy to slip into excuse mode.
I came back from Brisbane,with a gain of 4 kgs and its been killing me. I started working out with my fab trainer but festivals,broken foot..all came in the way.But when I went back to her on Monday,I felt horrible about falling off the wagon!
I have tried to eat as clean as possible,despite cooking all the goodies for the family.That makes me feel a tiny bit better..
I even walked to and back to school for pickup and when I got back home,I felt the good soreness that I actually look forward to after a workout.
Ms.Ananya is super cranky this evening,so I’ll wrap up this post.But not before I show you this pic of Canvas Lantern that Ms.Aadya made All-by-herself. My only contribution was cutting in straight lines and covering up the little whites on the left.
The inspiration behind this-This kandil that Shruti and Li’l P made last year. Thank you Shruti,she had a lot of fun making this!