15 Marbles

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

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  • Quick Tomato Soup

    Winters are here and on these cold days, you crave something warm. And if you are all out of those canned soups and soup powders, but in no mood for something elaborate,this soup is your best bet. It is also great for those days when you are just too tired or sick.
    Without further Ado,I present the quick Tomato soup-
    Ingredients-
    3-4 ripe medium sized tomatoes.
    1-2 green chillies
    1 tsp oil
    1/2 tsp jeera(cumin seeds)
    few sprigs of fresh coriander
    salt to taste
    1/2 tsp Sugar
    1/2 tsp black pepper powder (can be substituted with red chili powder,depending on your taste-buds)
    Method-
    Cut the tomatoes in big chunks and put them in a microwave safe bowl with 3 cups of water. Cook it in the microwave for 8-10 mins(*varies with microwave ovens*) till the tomato pieces are soft.

    Use a hand blender to puree’ the tomatoes.

    Pass this mixture through a sieve,to remove the pulp and keep aside.

    In a thick bottomed vessel,heat a teaspoonful of oil and add cumin seeds. When they turn brown,add chopped green chillies and then add the soup to it.

    Add salt , pepper powder and sugar.Bring it to a boil.

    Finally,add fresh coriander and simmer.

    Serve hot -as a hot soup or as an accompaniment with steamed rice or pulav.

    Note- You can leave the pulp in for that extra dose of fibers.

  • Her Best friends

    This is what Aadya got as an early Diwali gift from her Nanu. She didn’t want to let go of the box,after it was first handed over to her. Finally,she got distracted with something else,and Mamma managed to put the box away safely.

    On Dusshera day, we decided to remove her old ear-rings and put on these new beauties.While piercing the ears and getting those first earrings in took less than 5 minutes,getting them out was crazy.After I had tried unsuccessfully and managed to upset Aadya,so much that she wouldn’t even let me touch her ears,we decided to take her back to the place where we had got her ears pierced.

    So off we went to the mall,to Claire’s and there the girl behind the counter sterilised her hands and in 2 minutes she handed me the first earring and in the next minute,the other one.Just like that! OH well,I mumbled something about my failed attempts and how it upset the baby and just then the Baby decided to bestow her with a smile. Yeah, whatever!

    Anyway,we came back home and then putting the new earrings on didn’t take more than 5 minutes. So, now my baby girl is sporting her brand new diamond earrings.

  • Carrying on old traditions..

    ..And creating new memories. That’s what we did this Ashtami. I wrote about my memories of this day on my other blog .The last time I did Ashtami Pooja,was a few days before Aadya’s birth.Now Aadya is 6 months old.She is able to sit up properly and is so interested in all the things happening around her. So,I was super thrilled at the idea of celebrating Ashtami with her. I pre-planned everything in mind and proceeded accordingly. I soaked the Chana( chickpeas-black) overnight.I planned to wake up early and make the Prasad–Poori,halwa and Chane.

    As always,nothing goes as planned in Aadyaland. We got a visit from the Pest control company.Now,I had been waiting for them to come in for the last so many weeks,but they never showed up and so I didn’t want to let go of this opportunity.And after the pest control treatment was done,we had to be out of the apartment for the next 4-6 hours.So, I nursed Aadya and we all got ready in record time.My dad was still here. So,DH dropped us off at a mall and we spent the day there.After work,DH picked us up and brought us home. I was tired by then.But my dad kept our spirits high,regaling us with ashtami stories from my childhood.So,I took a quick shower and so did my dad. DH took care of Aadya,while dad helped me cook. Yes..have I ever mentioned what a great cook he is- He even helped me knead the dough,while I made the Halwa.He even served me hot Pooris after he finished his dinner. This is sure a slap in the face of all those who were asking me if my dad would be of any help to me at all after delivery!

    Anyway,in no time the Prasad was ready. Then,we sat Aadya down,washed her feet with milk and water,wiped them lovingly and put a tika.DH also put some kumkum on her feet. Then we did the Aarti and held the prasad filled plate in front of her.And as expected,she wanted to grab the biggest thing in the plate,the poori. We let her taste a teeny-tiny bit of the halwa.Then Nanu gave her his gift(Dusshera and pre-Diwali gift).

    Though things didn’t go as I had planned *whats new*,but we created some new memories. I sent some prasad and $1 for my sister,as dad was leaving next morning and she was thrilled to bits! Hope that dollar brings her all the luck.

    As for Aadya,I am sure in a few years she will realise the importance of the day and I hope she enjoys the tradition as much as I did and hopefully someday she can pass it on to her own daughter.:)

  • Two New Headers!

    So,I have been cribbing to everyone who would care to listen about how I want a new header and a new template for my blog. Every time someone put up a new template,I would turn green with envy,look for new templates,experiment on dummy blogs and fail miserably..yes yes..laugh all you like..but that’s how it happened!

    And then,this morning,I was down in the dumps-My dad just left over the weekend,its raining since morning,the sky is so overcast,it already feels like evening.And then,Lovely Tharini came to my rescue with this cute header..She even went to the trouble of finding the perfect template to go with it :)Incidentally,It was Tharini’s blog that I first read and decided to start blogging.

    Thanks,Gal!I owe you one!

    The other new Header..err..Head is my very own.I got myself a brand new haircut.Last weekend,after much debates and discussions,DH booked me up in this rather cool impressive looking Salon.Debates ad discussions-Dad and DH loved me in my long hair and tried their best to convince me not to cut it.Anyway,we went to the mall.I headed into the salon,while my dad,bro and DH baby-sat Aadya.Once there I got the royal treatment-Shampoo,head-massage, conditioner,cut and styling,the works. Sure is royal treatment,if you are getting it done after 1 and a half years! The stylist made me feel at ease instantly and for a change was willing to listen to what I wanted done to MY hair. Finally I got rid of the layered cut.I was tired of it after sporting it for more than 2 years. I leave you with Before and After pics!

    Before

    After