15 Marbles

Moments.Musings.Memories. ❤️Gathering little marbles from ordinary days and keeping them for our memory jar. ❤️

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  • Matar Paneer Dry

    You know how some days,you are just pressed for time but feel like eating something fancy.Or how you are hungry and craving something yummy…or more elaborate but don’t have the patience to make it.That’s exactly what happened to me,yesterday.
    I had some left over daal-fry dhaba style,from the previous nights dinner.So, I decided to make some jeera rice to go with it.But, as the smells of the delicious basmati infused with cumin filled up my kitchen,my mind started craving for a nice curry to go with it.I quickly raided the refrigerator only to find that not a single thing appealed to me.Well Except…the paneer. But there was not enough time.With less than half an hour left for DH to arrive,I had to act quickly.I got the paneer out,cut it into cubes.While I was still thinking of what to do with it..the little one woke up.Nothing much gets done in the kitchen,when she is awake.
    So,I quickly tossed a few things into the pan..and came up with this 🙂

    Like what you see? Here’s the recipe:

    Ingredients:

    1 1/ 2 cup paneer cubes

    1 cup peas

    2 tsp ginger-garlic paste.

    1/4 cup milk+1/8 cup water

    1/4 tsp turmeric powder

    1 tsp red chili powder

    1 tsp coriander-cumin powder

    1/2 tsp Garam masala

    salt to taste

    oil

    Preparation:

    Heat about 2-3 tsps of oil in a pan.

    Add ginger garlic paste and fry for 2-3 minutes.

    Next add the peas and stir fry,on a low flame.

    When the peas are half cooked,add the paneer cubes.By then the pan should be well greased,if not,dribble a tiny amount of oil on the sides. lightly toss the paneer cubes in the pan,so as to keep them from sticking to the pan.

    Add the spices and mix well,gently.

    Add the milk-water mixture and let it simmer,till all the liquid dries. If you want to make the dish richer,just add all milk,no water.

    Garnish with fresh coriander or mint leaves and serve hot,with roti .

  • Artsy Shartsy

    Today Ms. Aadya was very restless and was getting upset,when I tried to make her nap with me,at my naptime. She kept pointing at the door and wanted to go to the living room. Not one to give up easily,I dragged my pillow and balnket to the couch..but she got even more upset. After trying to sleep for a good 30-30 minutes,I gave up.

    I tried reading to her-she didnt want to read.Then,singing..she put her hand on my mouth..in an attempt to shush me. Then I remembered some colors I had picked up a few days back,for finger painting.We tried it sometime last week and she wanted to taste the color-one lick with a finger, the rigourous mouth wshing and stern No,was all it took to discourage her from eating the whole tube. She made a general mess of herself,her clothes,her hair and the newspaper that I gave her to splash color on.

    Today,however,I thought of trying something else.We had a hanger,from a 6-pack of onsies.I thought of doing something fun with it. It had a general appearance of a tree..so,we started out with a big blot of red color. I showed her how to spread it all over the hanger. She did..Then we let it dry and started coloring in the color book with crayons. When the finger-paint dried up,I took a tube of brown oil paint and a brush and evenly spread the brown all over that. and hung it to dry.

    Then,we played with the blocks and colored some more. And as I watched the drying hanger..a thought struck me..it didnt look like a tree..but looked like a lobster or something. So,I quickly got it down and dotted some yellow color on the ends and helped Aadya,blend it. And then,to add a final touch, made the eyes..

    I present to you,our first attempt at art work –


    Welllllllll, what do you think??

  • All my doings and the movie

    Weekends are meant to sleep-in and we are strong believers of that. We don’t make any early morning plans,we rarely meet people for lunch on weekends,because by the time we eat breakfast,most people are beginning to think of lunch and by the time,we do lunch,normal people are thinking of tea. This was pretty much what we did until a few months back.
    Even when I got pregnant,I would wake up in the mornings ,ravenous..So,I would sneak to the kitchen,grab a cup of milk,drink it in bed,reading a book and then go back to sleep. Then,Ms.Aadya happened and she started waking up early..So,I’d just nurse or give her a bottle and cuddle up with her,and she would go back to sleep too.
    But a couple months back,she decided that the weekend should be treated as any other day..and its a great idea to wake up early.So,now,she wakes up early..and starts playing,jumping on the bed,poking me..till I don’t get up. I hate being woken up from my sleep,and god help the one,who tries to wake me up from my slumber..well..except if that someone is Aadya. So,i wake up..and most days,being a meanie that I am..I tell her to ask papa to wake up..Bolo Utho utho baby (say wakey wakey baby) and she would just pat him.Yesterday,they were both up and I was sleeping,this little missy comes up to me and pats me on the cheek and says-“Mamma,utho utho!” Oh well,I taught her to say it!
    When Sanj is in the bathroom and we are getting late for going somewhere..or sometimes,just to tease him,I have Aadya knock and tell her to say Kholo papa kholo(open up,papa). She just taps on it one or two times and then comes running to cling to me..a couple days back,I went to the bathroom and closed the door.Aadya and Sanj were in bed,reading a book.She pushed the book away, and banged the door-“dham dhaam” and screamed,”Mumma,Khollo” I mean how is that she never says it when I tell her to say it..but is ready to use it for me!!Grrr..
    When Aadya is being naughty,I just wag my finger at her and scold her…or try to..Sometimes,I ask her,Understand? or Got it? Now, whenever,we are talking or arguing and our voices are raised,Aadya,wags her finger at the offending party..and says something,gibberish..we used to just laugh it off..until a few days ago,she turned towards me,when I was laughing and scolded me some more and said,”Understand?” with a dead-pan serious expression!!! I just wanted to go hide somewhere!!Need I say,how much Sanj enjoyed watching my face turn white!
    And this one surely takes the cake..Sanj and Aadya were cuddling in bed and Aadya was patting her dolly. so,she was trying to put her to sleep.She was humming..aaaaa aaaa aaaaa…and patting the doll.Suddenly she got up,propped her self on her elbow and scolded the dolly..haaannnnnnnnn..ninni ninni.. Gosh..it was so cute..but so identical to our typical nght-time scene..Me patting Aadya..,humming,aaa aaaa aaa..and propping myself up on the elbow and scolding her,for not sleeping..haaannnn.. ninni karo.. jaldi close your eyes and ninni karo!!
    Uh-oh time to change my tactics!!:D

    *********************
    And now the movie,that I almost watched.So,we went to watch The dark knight with some friends..I had been really down,last couple days and so Sanj planned this evening,the Batman,being my favorite and all.We got to the theatre well in time and got great seats too.There was a lot of room for Aadya to play and we were close to the exit.Besides,it was almost her bed-time. Mostly,we just go for the last show,that way,she sleep through it..Ideally,I would’ve liked to not take her..but,somethings cant be helped. So,not to digress.10 minutes into the movie,Aadya,started getting fidgety,we gave her popcorn,she munched happily.A little extra snack never hurt anyone. Pop-corn finished,she turned back and started pointing to the bag of popcorn that belonged to the people behind us. After the usual No-No’s she started watching the movie..and almost dozed off..but,then the screen lit-up,and she was wide awake.I took her out,let her run around in an attempt to tire her out.She was more than happy to run around. We played catch in the deserted upper floor lobby. Then,she started feeling sleepy.So,I changed her diaper,put her in the stroller,gave her the bottle..And started walking her.normally 10 minutes of this routine and she is fast asleep..But yesterday was something else.She just didn’t want to sleep. I walked around the mall,before it closed one time.Sanj offered to trade places..but I figured at least one of us,could watch the complete movie!
    So we walked some more..and after a while,I actually started enjoying the quiet walk.When I got tired,I sat down,drank some water,gave her some water and called my dad.Had a quiet chat with him,while Aadi looked around. As soon as I hung up,she said,”Mumma Ghumi”..yes baby,I said..and off we went for Ghumi again..While everyone else enjoyed the movie..we enjoyed our own movie…Sigh.. the dark knight will have to wait..until this fair princess is awake!

  • Just other things

    I am in a mood to blog today and I want to write something non-baby.Some days I feel,my whole life is revolving around Aadya..and I love it..OK that’s all I am going to write about her.
    So, last couple days have been really eventful- happy or not,I will tell you in a bit.

    I have been dealing with some health-related issues and that has left me feeling rather low. I am just coming to terms with the situation and hoping things start to look up soon. But seeing doctors,waiting for reports and then waiting to get appointments is tiring.And on the whole,I am really tired.The house is a mess-I tidy up,then,it gets messy and I am just too tired to pick up again.Some days,even cooking seems like a big chore too.There is no energy for socialising too,so other than the really unavoidable ones,I have been keeping a low profile.. Hopefully things will get better from here on.

    I spent quite a few days moping over my health but its just not me to keep moping..There is always something that makes me want to get up and take charge! Getting doctors and specialists appointments unless you are pregnant or unless its an emergency or unless you are just back from the ER is so tough. I waited 2 months to see a specialist,only for her to refer me to a super-specialist,who doesn’t have any openings for new patients for at least 2 and half months from now.It is nerve-wracking,I tell you,this waiting.You know there is a problem..you have google for support and ideas..you talk to people you know,who might have some ideas for you.. but you are still at a loss,till you don’t get the final verdict from the doctor!Gahh!!

    Then,there is a big move on the cards..and this time,it seems like the right thing. Sanj’s assignment officially ends on August 28th and anytime after that,we would be boarding the flight to leave Dallas. Dallas bloggers ,how about having a meet before that? I had booked my tickets to Seattle for mid September..now I don’t know if I will be able to take that trip..But somehow the uncertainty that came with this new development doesn’t seem overwhelming.May be because we had made up our minds to move,even before this announcement came through. Some time in June,we had decided that we wanted to go back to India,when our visa expired..so may be that why we are mentally ready for this change.

    Now,I need to start organising our stuff- what to throw,what to donate/give away,what to take along,what to ship ahead of time.Oh and there is this question of destination.We don’t have any idea about destination yet..so,can’t start on the apartment search.That’s always the first on my list,every time we move.But this time,that will have to wait. The sorting of the stuff will take a long time. I have a complete section of the garage packed with boxes and trash bags,full of stuff. They need to be unpacked,checked through and repacked. I know I can do it during the day,when Sanj takes the car out, but its too hot in there. And its not such a good idea to let Aadya run around when I open the boxes.There will be more things on the floor than in the boxes,if madam is around.So, may be that needs to be done on the weekend. I guess things will pick up only when,we have a final date and destination for the move..till then,I should at least try to collect the odds and ends scattered around in the apartment.

    This time,I am really excited to move ..if only I had the energy to keep up with the excitement.Funny, now when I think,I have had really low energy levels,around the last two moves..the first was from Chicago to Phoenix,when I was pregnant..and the next was from Phoenix to Dallas-when I was sleep deprived.. and this time I am just sick.But there is still time for the actual move and by then,I am sure I will be fine. Oh and BTW, those are just two of the six moves we made in the less than 4 years.

    And now,since I have decided to write about non-baby stuff,I am going to steal this tag from , Cee Kay. No one remembered to tag me * sulk*

    Here’s the Book tag:

    Pick up the nearest book.
    Open to page 123.Find the fifth sentence.
    Post the next three sentences.
    Tag five people, and acknowledge the person who tagged you .

    I am currently reading “Sweet Dreams at the Goodnight Motel” by Curtiss Ann Matlock.
    Here’s what I have :
    “But her money was gone,all that she had saved out,little by little,for the past six months of serving Krispy Kremes.The money that would get her to the doctor,that would get her somewhere if Denny left her.
    Denny had known about it all along.”
    OK,now I am tempted to flip through the pages and reach page 123. I am still on page 94 and have no clue..who this woman is and who this Denny is!!
    As for tagging and acknowledging..remember I am sulking..No one tagged me..*sulk sulk*

    Ha! and even in this non-baby post,I managed to mention Aadya 4 times!!Oh what the heck,I spend every waking second of my day with her.. so,its OK..Na?