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!
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My friend Vasu and her husband Sanjay host the best Diwali parties that I know of.Their attention to detail always floors me.Everything from menu to home decor,outfits,gifts is so well planned.What I like best about their ideas is Simplicity and the ease of it.So,when Vasu shared this recipe,by the way,all credits of which go to Sanjay,I had to try it.
Ingredients:
Dry desiccated coconut about 250-300 gms
Condensed milk -200 mL can
Food color-optionalTake condensed milk and desiccated coconut in a mixing bowl.Combine till lumpy. Form balls,roll the balls in dry coconut.Serve.
Optional: coat the balls in crushed nuts.What I liked best about this recipe was- there was no cooking involved.And there was no measurement involved.I am more of an eyeball cook.I just add a dash of this,a dash of that,a pinch of this and usually never bother to measure…unless when I want to share recipes here.
If you haven’t tried this recipe you must…I promise you,it will become your go to recipe.I made the first batch this morning for Aadya’s class.
SD and Aadi loved it.I just finished making another batch in 25 mins…how cool is that!
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Because I was too tired to post yesterday..I am trying to make up for it,with pics:)
Lakshmi Pooja set up–
There are so many precious things on this Puja table!The Golden cloth you see-that was my Bridal stole-specially designed for the occasion and handmade by the girl who applied my bridal mehendi.
The Blue cloth is another favorite Dupatta-never used,except to grace the prayer table.
The lamp on the left-is a gift from my mother-in-law.One of her students gave it to her and she passed it on to me,knowing my love of brass lamps.
The lamp on the right- was gift from one of my dad’s client.It’s a part of the pair..and my mum always said,that she would give one to each of her daughters.When I got married,dad gave it to me,as a part of the wedding presents.
The copper vessels- again a part of the wedding presents..traditional gifts given by a father to his daughter,when she gets married.
All these things in the same photograph,make it my favorite photo now:)
aah the joy of sparklers..Ms.Ananya learns from watching her sister.I have to tell you though..for the first two days,all she was interested in was trying to taste the sparks! By the third day..she knew the drill and I could leave her alone for 2 secs to take a picture!
Hope you had a wonderful,lit up Diwali too!
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Over the last few days,Ms.Aadya has been dropping some pearls of wisdom and I have to write them here,so I don’t forget!
She calls Ananya,”Tup-Tup”..before the last school holidays,Ananya was quite sick and had lost a lot of weight.Her chubby cheeks were gone and she had turned pale.Anyway,after the holidays,we managed to bring back the cheeks and a bit of color on her face and on one of the last days,I noticed it and before SD or I could comment on it,Aadi said,”Mom,Anani looks like Tup Tup again!” So yeah..she calls her sister tup-tup!
Yesterday morning,as I was warming milk for her-
A-“Mum,can you please make sure there is no Rus Mol?”
Me- Whats Rus Mol?
A- Oh you know the white blanket that forms on the milk after its been warmed!
Me-Speechless!! (I am guessing she made the Malai(cream) and Ras Malai connection)On Dhan Teras day,we explained to her,we can’t go out to eat after swimming,because we are not supposed to spend money on that day.On the way back from swimming,
A: Mum,can we go out to eat?I am hungry.
Me: Remember we told you,we can’t spend any money today.
A: ohh then lets use the card!
Me:LOL!then I tell her,card is money too.. and how we need to put money in a bank to use it as a card.
A:Ok..
Five minutes later,
A:Mommmmm,do we need money to go to Maccas?
Me: yes,baby..whatever we eat outside,costs money.
By which time,we are near the mall..she tried again..
A:Can we go into the mall and get the juice that I LOVEE?
Me:Remember no spending..
A:So what happens if you spend today?
SD:You lose your money..
A:hmm..too bad..all those people whose cars are parked there,don’t know any better..Should we go inside and tell them..to not spend any money?
SD&I:NO!
A:Ok Ok..I am just asking..would you like it if Ananya and I shout at you like that??And when you finish laughing,here’s the recipe for you:)
Karanji
Yields: 20-22
Ingredients:
Filling:
1 cup coconut(grated fresh/frozen)
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup creamy evaporated milk
3/4 cup sugar
nuts,raisins
cardamom powder-1/2 tsp
saffron strands
3 tsp semolina roasted
1/2 tsp poppy seeds,roasted.Outer Shell:
2 cups All purpose flour
1/4 cup semolina
2 tsp melted ghee
salt
warm water.Oil for frying.
Method :
For the shell:
Take all the ingredients except water in a bowl and knead it into a soft pliable dough,adding little quantities of water.Cover with a wet paper-towel and keep aside.Filling:
Take the coconut,milk,evaporated milk in a thick bottomed vessel and let it cook,till the liquid has evaporated.
Add sugar,cook for two more minutes till the mix is almost dry.Take it off the flame.
Add the semolina, poppy seeds and nuts and raisins.
Let it cool.Putting together:
Divide the dough into equal sized balls. Spread some dry flour on a clean,dry surface-the kitchen counter or a chopping board.Roll out each ball into a circle,about 5-6″ in diameter.
Put the filling in the center,brush some milk along the edge of the circle,then,lift one side of the circle and put it on the opposite side,making a semi-circle or a half-moon shape.
Fry on a medium heat,till golden brown on both side.
Enjoy-hot or cold!
