MY SONPARI

What A Lovely Life It Is!!!!

2011-09-15T18:56:00.001+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

Its being a routine now that I need to always start my post with an apology. Again this post is coming after a long time. This post consists of my Raksha Bandhan celebrations, Eid celebrations and my fun times with Prem. Yes therez again lots more pics of him.. Though I am posting after a long time but this time I don't mind much as it was a happy time all the way till now and Insha Allah it will continue as it is in the future too. Yup, was surrounded by work too but this time Rab has showered on me his choicest of blessings and I take this chance to thank Him from my heart. And thanx to all my blogger friends too for praying and caring for me all the while. All the comments really perk me up. Thanks a lot.

This cake was bought by one of my sis's rakhi brother. This raksha bandhan was the most fun, enjoyable and special in my life. I had so much of fun on that day that its difficult for me to find words to describe it here.

These are all my neighbour rakhi brothers. Brothers are real shaitans I should say, see the pic one of them is trying to pinch another.... Brothers and shaitanis go hand in hand.....

This is my cousin brother. He already had this thing on his hand. When I asked him why had he worn such a thing when in Islam it is not allowed for boys to adorn any jewelleries. He said it is 'Suraksha Kawach' - protection for brothers from their sisters. And the 3 eye beads that it had over it was for we 3 sis. Very funny :-p

And when we tied rakhi to him instead of giving us gifts he asked money from us itself. When we questioned him about it he answered that when a sister ties a rakhi on her brother's hands then the bro had to protect his sister all his life. So he was asking for the protection money. Whoa... these brothers....... they are always troubling but life without them wont be fun, isn't it?

Here comes my Prem. He was not at all in good mood on the raksha bandhan day. Thats y was not given good poses and was not even giving me to tie rakhi on his hand properly. Below are his various moods that day....

Hurray!!! I ultimately succeded in tying the rakhi and clicking the pic too....

The above three pics were clicked a few days later. He was in his junglee self on that day and I loved him even more for it.

Then came the Eid. I am really feeling very guilty as I had thought of posting the recipe of sheerkhurma this time, but the whole day was spent so busy and running around that I just couldn't get any time to post anything. This cake was bought by Anup, my sis's rakhi brother.

Below are some more pics of Prem as I had promised. He is just so cute that my work has taken a back seat as I am constantly playing with him.. Once my mom comes back I know all this masti has to stop, boo hoo hoo :-( But never mind still I'll find ways to play with that sweet angelic devil.. Yes hez become one of them and has now started doing lots of nakhras... :-( I love it.....

Prem Babu

2011-08-08T17:40:00.004+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

This is the new addition in my neighbour's family. They've named him Prem - big fan of Salman Khan that they are.... He is one of the cutest baby and too tempting to kiss him lots and lots of it everytime. The thing I like about him is that he is not a cranky fellow. Always cheerful and smiling. I just adore him... Got one more toy to play with now ;-D More pics of him will surely come up this Raksha Bandhan when I'll tie a rakhi to him and in return take more lots of kisses from him - my rakhi gift..

Maazaa Kheer

2011-08-08T13:01:00.001+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

This was actually sugarcane kheer from my newspaper cuttings recipes. And my bestest friend had given me a stern warning not to have sugarcane juice ever. That is because sugarcanes have a property to soak in the water. The people who sell sugarcane juice on the road side stall usually stock up sugarcanes just at the side of their stalls wherein dirty water also flows from beneath it. This dirty water is absorbed by the sugarcanes and thats what goes into our tummy when we drink its juice.

I always get tempataions whenever I pass on a sugarcane juice stall. Many times I also argue with my friend ki ek baar pine se kya bigad jayega but she is adamant. However when I got this recipe I instantly got a bahana to use sugarcane juice. Well but me being a good friend or atleast my friend thinks it that way :-D, I dropped the idea of using the sugarcane juice. However my experiMENTAL mind was running high searching an alternative. Thats when I saw a bottle of maazaa fruit juice in my refrigerator, my bro had bought it. The devil in me said yippie and immediately took it out for my further experimentations....... I used maazaa instead of sugarcane juice.

This recipe is just as crazy as me so try it on ur own risk. ;-)

RECIPE:

Ingredients:
Basmati tukra rice = 1/2 cup

Maazaa juice = 2 cups

Method:
1. Soak rice in water for 1/2 hr. Half cook it in pressure cooker for a few minutes.

2. Add the half cooked rice to the maaza juice and cook on slow flame for 25-30 mins..

3. When it comes to the required thickness switch off the flame.

4. Let it cool for sometime and grind it in mixer.

5. Serve it in a bowl garnished with dry fruits of choice...

Sending this Anyone Can Cook Event at Taste Of Pearl City.

Belated Ramzan Mubarak.....

2011-08-06T23:11:00.001+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

I've really become a very lazy blogger. But its not laziness actually. Summer season was full of work and since rains started my health alongwith the health of my other family members was down. We all within a gap of 2-3 days got sick with some kind of viral fever. And it continued the whole last month. After effects of the fever is showing up even now. Feeling tired, and some headaches and all in that I had to part ways with my mom as she left to be with my dad for the month of Ramzan. Things are just hotch-potch with me right now. Even the first day of ramzan for me was so tough and emotionally draining. However things that kept me floating even in this deluge of emotions were ofcourse my hobbies. Getting some time at home and having nothing else to do sometimes makes me very happy as I get to do my stuff that I like the most.

Of course this time cooking had taken a back stage. The last thing I tried was Khara Biscuits from Iyengar bakery. Got the recipe on one of the blog of my blogger friend. However my oven is giving me attitude nowadays and is not baking the biscuits properly. It just spoiled my mood even more as just a day before I had made sponge cake and that too turned out to be too hard.

Ultimately I turned to crocheting for my solace and that really lifted up my mood. Nowadays have started out with embroideries and its turning out to be too good de-stressing factor for me.

Well my this post should be about ramzan but just emptying out my heart. While I checked my mail today I saw a mail from Iqrasense website. It offers some good info on Islam and really proves to be useful. The article on how to maximise your rewards can be found here. Therez also some more info and resources on ramzan here. Hope it benefits all of us and may our Rab forgives us and accepts our prayers.

Mumbai Meri Jaan....

2011-07-30T22:13:00.000+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

Aahh... after a very long time on my blog. Feeling like back in the comforts of my home. Rab ka shukar hai... Was thinking what to post after a long time and I got mine while returning from the airport yesterday. Since past few days somebody complained me about Mumbai and Mumbai life, stating that its not safe living in Mumbai. Things like khoon-kharaba, chori-dacaiti, dhoka-fareb, loot-maar, hafta wasuli and rough and tough people. Besides therez less love between people. Believe me this is exactly what was told to me about my Mumbai. And I don't understand why people think so negative about this city.

Anyways, yesterday after dropping my mom at the airport while on our way back I saw this and just smiled. This is mumbai I felt. I feel we are very adjusting people. It was raining very very heavily that time and to save themselves from the rain, the people inside the autorickshaw kept open their umbrella in this way. I felt it just amazing and hence without wasting time took my cell phone and clicked the pic from the car.

Therez just a request to all those who reads this post. Just because of few wrong people don't hold the whole city responsible. I believe there are good and bad people everywhere - agreed that somewhere it may be less and somewhere more but that doesn't means the whole lot are bad. Mumbai has seen some terrible times, we all know that. It is not our mistake that we are born in mumbai or that terrorist usually target our city or simply because of some bad goons everybody considers the whole population of that city wrong. We are humans too and we do have a heart. Just need everybody's understanding at this point. Hoping to get everybody's support.

Thousand Things Running In Mind And Heart Not At Peace

2011-06-01T15:39:00.000+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

Yes I am terribly tired and my head is spinning 360 degrees. ( I imagine myself as one of the cartoon character at such times - head spinning 360 degrees... heheheh). Lots of work and no time for myself is what makes me more grumpy.. Whenever I log in and check out my fellow bloggers, the recipes out there makes my mouth water and my heart insists on trying them soon. But the next look on my schedule makes me sigh. I had a feeling that all these would end by this month, but thats not gonna happen anymore. Though would be a bit relaxed but work load is gonna increase even more.

There are some wonderful events going on and I was desperately wishing and hoping to go ahead with them.. For some I even dished out some delicacies but didn't had enough time for photography.... Get scoldings from my people that I always complain of having no time and wasting time here by photographing.... They'll never understand what blogging means to me.. Another reason is that like me they too lack some patience till I finish clicking off. They wanna dunk in as soon as the dish is made. Still after having it all my siblings never appreciate as they say it will spoil me. Boo hoo hoo....

Life is just turning around to no proper end. This is the place where I get beautiful comments from my blogger friends and it really makes a difference on me and motivates me... I look forward to everybody's comments rather than sulk about the non-appreciative tactics of my people... Well being a scorpio not ready to give in to life so easily, I know to fight back. Insha Allah I'll overcome this time too..

The more bad I am feeling is for neelam didi. This sunday it was her first wedding anniversary and I just couldn't wish her.. I was very badly down with health since saturday, and sunday was in more worse condition. Atleast that I could have messaged her, would have made her happy... So bad Me...... I was preparing a special gift for her anniversary but missing out on her anniversary just spoilt all my mood now.

Sometimes just don't understand the ways of life... Life it seems is very beautiful and bright but one such incident which may hurt makes in dull and lifeless. The more we try to cheer ourselves, the more we or should I say 'I' sulk. Dunno whether its same for everyone. I don't give up easily but constantly fighting neither gives me any high,, specially when the person or the other life I am fighting with is somebody my own... How differences get creeped into relationships and spoils the main essence of it... Well coming back to neelam didi - its been a year since her wedding. Last year had a wonderful time. I was seeing a full-fledged wedding for the first time. Right from the process of engagement, wedding card, mehendi, haldi, wedding, I just loved it all. And later on didi bought some beautiful pics of kullu manali, where she went for her honeymoon...

Sorry neelam didi,, I am sure u will understand, I did remember you on ur anniversary day... And I hope my life comes back to normalcy once again....

Dress Designing - Reposting

2011-05-19T18:48:00.000+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

Aah hah!!! My first post after the awards season. The more I was desperate to post it the more it kept getting delayed. Well before the awards posts I posted about the stuff I made for my sis F.D. class. Continuing with that is my this post. Its a lovely post and many memories are attached to it. I had fun making all these. I always loved designing my own clothes and giving tips to my friends whenever they needed it. Thats the reason they frowned and complained when I started wearing hijab. They came up to me and said they won't anymore get to copy my dresses patterns.. :-) Designing is just my hobby and I love it very much.... Sometimes I just love designing crazy and funky pieces. I think designing always depends on the state of mind of a person.... And I am mostly on my craziest self.... My folks always ask me to grow up but I dunno what growing up means. Does anybody have an answer? Think bout' it and enjoy the pics....

When I started designing for my sis I felt designing on a paper is more tough than just simply giving a pattern to a dress that one has. All minute and intrinsic things matter on a paper. Though the finished product also should be on the perfectionist line but according to me merely designing anything on a paper needs to knock out the energy out of one's brains.

Because it was a class project I had to design clothes according to the teacher's theme. Otherwise I am no hearts with this kinds of dresses. The cuts on the trousers from around mid thighs are simply not my taste...

We had to do many trials on paper before making the final one. Loved this saree very much as it has one of my favorite color 'Black'.

Sometimes I don't understand why models have to wear such extra ordinary clothes ( should I say clothes?) on the ramp when people may actually not wear them... Just rolled my head up and down and designed these crazy stuffs.....

Lots of pains and sweet memories are included while making all these things... I dunno whether or how long my sis will take care of these projects but now I am content that I have them up on my blog which will always remind me of that time...( Hope blogger doesn't removes my this post again... Due to some probs I lost this post and comments too... )

How Could I And A Line Of Few More Awards

2011-05-05T15:20:00.000+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

Oops!!! Me the bhulakkad blogger did a big blunder which I realised only yesterday. In my last post I forwarded all the awards to my other fellow bloggers but I forgot to intimate them on their blog about this... However yesterday, God knows how but it just dawned on me about my mistake and that gave me a sleepless night. Today since morning I m trying to get online but some or the other work has kept me running around. Well dear friends please give me one more award "The Bhulakkad Blogger Award" :-D. My apologizes for this...

This season is awards raining season for me.... My last few posts are only about awards. Again I saw a sweet comment on one of my post by ambreen, few more awards were waiting for me. Thanx a lot everybody, I am really humbled by all the love that you all have showered on me. Below are my awards.

I would like to share these awards with......

Rachu

Experiments with taste

Yippiee!!!!! More Awards For Me....

2011-04-28T18:37:00.048+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

Once again I am very late in posting these awards which were passed on to me by Jay. Thank you Jay. Just checked out your comments in my first award post and saw these beautiful awards waiting for me. Thank you so much. The feeling is really great to receive these beautiful awards... Blogging world is like one big family... Away from my blog for so long and losing touch with such wonderful people here made me restless... I can say I had to steal a few hours today to loggin today. Life is so magical... some people whom we have never met nor know them so well yet we remember them.. The same thing is happening with me nowadays. I am always concerned about the blog posts of my blogger friends.... Its like ki arre aaj na jaane kaunsi recipes post kiye honge sab ne.. and sometimes when I do login for a while to check out the recipes I get equally restless to try out those yummy recipes. However nowadays meri badluck hi bad chal rahi hai.. Just getting frustrated sometimes.... Chalo koi nahi this phase too shall pass. Just need prayers from everyone... Well now my turn to pass on these awards to others...

1.   Ally
2.   Champa
3.   Soumya
4.   Veena
5.   Swati
6.   The veggie hut
7. Archana
8.   Umm Mymoonah
9. Satya
10. Vidhya
11. Jaya
12. Smitha
13. PJ
14. Ru
15. Reshmi

Thank You

2011-04-10T13:50:00.000+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

Thank you all my blogger friends. All your comments and wishes have really encouraged me to post more often. It really feels good to receive such appreciations.. I know my thanks is coming lill late but as you all know I am somewhat a late lateef blogger. Certain unavoidable work assignments had kept me on my toes and its going to get more worse.... this and the next month.

However there are many things that I am very desperate to post. Insha allah will post it soon enough. Just need more prayers from you all...

Yay!!! That's My First Award

2011-03-25T23:04:00.002+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

"Itni shiddat se mainay tumhe paane ki koshish ki hai..... ki saare zamane ne mujhe tumse milane ki saazish ki hai...." That was the first thought that came to my mind after receiving this award.. Well I am a lill late in posting up this award ( lill late means a week late, I'd received this award last friday :-p ) The month of march is just so busy for me that I was just away from my blog for a long time..... This award gave me a reason to be back with my blog...

I would like to thank Indu of Indu gets cooking for giving me this award. This being my first award is very special to me and so is Indu who gave it to me.. Thank you dear... Thanx a lot. Wish you were near.. I would have really dished up something great for you... ;-D (My people are scared of my experiments in the kitchen, would love to try it on you)

Well now the rules about receiving the award.....Indu dear I'll simply copy paste the rules written on your blog... That would be an easy work, isn't it?

There are some rules to take up the award:

1) Post the name and URL of the blogger - blog who gave me the award.

2) Copy and paste the logo in the blog.

3) Share 7 things about myself.

4) Pass it on to 15 other bloggers.

5) Leave a comment in the latest post informing the blogger about the award.

Now there are many whom I would like to pass on this award.... Tough job to select only 15... .. So here it goes.....

Rachu
Creative Mind
Kavita
Priya
Torviewtoronto
Aipi
Prathibha
Tasty Appetite
Palatable
Harini
Zareena
Nisa
Soumya
Jeyashrisuresh
Ila

Rains....

2011-02-28T21:57:00.000+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

While cleaning the cupboard I came across this project I had made for my sis some years back. It was for her fashion designing class. They had to select a topic and work on it accordingly. Ofcourse in her case I selected the topic and I zeroed in on 'Rains' which is my all time fav topic. I have always loved the black and white album theme and thought to implement it with rains which makes everything colorful...

Can't write up more, pics will do it for me.... The poems and write up of this project has been written by me itself. Just love to go through such memories...

Crazy Guava Experiment

2011-02-24T14:44:00.000+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

I am a big fan of guavas whereas my mom doesnt allows to eat more of them. They produce cough and cold within a person, is her belief. However sometimes I do bring it and relish it. This time I crazily bought a lots of it and having so much of them did affect my throat and I developed a lill cough. No matter what I had to finish off the remaining guavas and therefore experimented this. Though it is just silly and crazy and tasted fine tooo but I don't think I will ever again make it :-p

No recipe for this. Just that I cut the guava in half scooped out the insides. Grinded it along with some black grapes, apple and banana. Heat olive oil in a pan and transferred the grinded paste into it. Saute for few minutes and filled the paste into the guava.

Flowy Food

2011-02-19T15:16:00.009+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

My bro's flowy has grown up and turned into a beautiful fishy. And hence nowadays throwing lots of attitude... huh!!!! Sar pe chada rakha usse mere bhai ne. Giving her treat more often now. Yes we are jealous.... ;-D The above lill fishes are the food that he bought for his flowy. Looking at the size of these lill fishes just imagine how much the flowy might have grown up. These are just bite size fishes for her and she may finish them off in one go. I felt pity for them and hence clicked the clicks of these innocent ones..

My First Stitched Bags

2011-02-15T14:32:00.001+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

Purses are my weakness and now I've taken a liking to a different art - stitching. I always had a fear for sewing machines. Though I would stitch but was never comfortable with it. When I saw these kinds of purses at an aunt's place I fell in love instantly. I wanted to make them but was skeptical using sewing machine again. However my temptation overtook my fear and here I am with these cute bags..

I made this purse out of waste swatches of cloth lying in the wardrobe. My nani, My mom and me have a habit of collecting swatches of fabric. They are very useful in making some or the other things. Whenever we stitch our dresses we never throw the remaining extra pieces. They are stored in a bag for making quilts. When enough is collected we make a quilt out of it.. However this time I was too tempted to make a bag from it. Isn't it lovely?

Closer...

This is the bigger one and proving very useful for me. I just love it. There are more to come now...... Have already started with a batwa and looking forward to many more stitched bags....

Love For All My Blogger Friends

2011-02-14T15:28:00.001+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

Today is valentines day. Though I don't believe in it as I feel we don't require a special day to express to our loved ones that how much we love them... But yes the hype is too much for this day.... Our feelings can be expressed to our loved ones 24x7 and throughout the year. Our care our support can be extended to our near and dear ones whenever they need it the most..

Well but for my blogger friends, I feel today is the day I thank them for all the love and encouragement they have showed through their comments on my posts. It really matters and boosts my enthusiasm. So thank you all for all the love, blessings and encouragement you all have showered on me... I hope it will keep on going like this and we be best of friends.... Ameen...

Before My Mom Comes

2011-02-13T20:34:00.001+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

Yippee!!!! My mom will be back next sunday and I am the most happiest.... But therz lots of work to be completed before she comes. I need to complete crocheting a few doilies.. complete stitching my dupatta and more over finish of these tonics which she had given me before leaving around 4 months back.I can complete everything but these meds, are a tough task for me. These meds are only a months quota but its 4 months now and I still have to finish them all.

My mom thinks because I am a fussy eater and don't eat properly I am in very much need of these tonics. But whenever I have them I feel very much hungry and want to gobble down anything as soon as possible, which is mostly junk food. So what good are these meds for me I've never understood that. Well anyways, whenever I don't have them my mom says agarbatti ki dhuni daal de. So thats what I did in this pic. :-) Love U Mom.

My Driving License Bag

2011-02-05T00:43:00.000+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

Last month I had majorly posted about food. It is all thanks to the events going on which tempted me to try and post recipes accordingly. However my other hobbies were equally at work. For long wanted something to keep my driving license and other related documents. Searched pattern on ravelry again and again, finalised some and then ultimately made my own pattern. Actually I had to as I wanted to finish off all remaining small stash of wools with me. Whenever I am in real mood to prepare something, it really turns out too very well beyond my expectations. This bag too is just amazing and is actually a utility bag for me. No need to stitch zip or buttons on it. It just simply holds everything so perfectly that I need not worry anymore about my stuff in it. And this is all thanks to the thickness of the wool that varied. It actually does the work of holding up things.. My mom will be very happy with this one as this is the first bag ever that I am actually using it.. :-) This bag can not only hold my license and related documents, but is spacious enough to hold my cell and some cash. I just need to grab and off with my work...

Cakes For Mom's Birthday

2011-01-31T11:30:00.001+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

Today is the last day of this month.. I should have posted this post on the very first day of this month itself. 1st Jan being my mom's birthday is always a special day for all of us.. No matter if she is here with us or away with my dad, I always make it a point to either bring a cake or bake it at home itself. Last year I could do neither of it as I was away on a trip. This year too mom is with dad and the first day of the year been too busy for me, I opted to bring a cake from the cake shop . This job I gave to my youngest sis and she bought the one below.

This is an out an out chocolate cake. And I didn't liked it much. Besides it had too much of chocolate chips over it so not my type. And over and above she didnt even wrote my mom's name over it.. When I asked her about this, I got the reply what difference does it makes as mom is not here with us... Felt bad as I should have only went and bought a good one... Thats the reason I thought of baking another cake this month.. And I wanted to make blackforest rasgulla cake from masterchef..

This is my blackforest rasgulla cake, nowhere near to what they've shown on television. As always I was short of certain ingredients at the last moment.. Even the decoration gave way as I couldnt make those chocolate logs... And my siblings started making fun of it. No matter, I am an optimist so still went ahead and though the presentation is not as good as it should have been, the taste was quiet good. So my dearest mom this is for you.. I know you are not here to taste it, but once you come back, I will surely make an another one much better for you again. Love u a lot.... God bless u mom.... Thanks for always been so wonderful a person and a sonpari to me - helping and being by my side whenever I am in need....

Life In Diaries

2011-01-30T15:07:00.022+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

Life in diaries... Diaries have always been an important part in my life. Earlier when in school it would be made out of scrap papers to note down homework for the day. In college it would be usually to note down my feelings about life... Sometimes it would be writing down good quotes that I came across. When my mom went for Haj and when she usually had to stay with my dad that time I used diary to note down daily expenses. After my college my diary turned into my daily planner - writing down all the things for the day

Its like I developed some kind of attachment with diaries in my life. Therefore today while cleaning my cupboards I came across all these diaries that were a part of my life. I still wonder for what purpose I had kept them still and after going through them got a smile on my face. Me the 'raddiwali' of my family. Though they hold lots of beautiful memories and I was really happy to have them all back but my people won't allow me to collect any more such stuff which they think is of no use anymore. They don't understand the emotional values attached to it. Therefore before giving them out to the actual raddiwala I decided to click their pics and post it on my blog where they will serve as my memories for ever....

Baghare Baingan

2011-01-29T23:27:00.002+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

My attraction with brinjals began with the serial Baingan raja. That was a kid special show usually aired on national channel. I was a school going kid that time and used to love the title song of that show. " Jhug jhug jiyo mere baingan raja. Raj tumhara sabse pyara. Jhug jhug jiyo mere baingan raja." I started loving brinjals during that time itself. And to add to it my mom used to say that baingan bharta was my nana's favorite dish. And thats why that became mine favorite too. Although I've never seen my nana but I love him very much. After baingan bharta I loved brinjal fries that mom used to make usually during ramzan iftaaris. I would eat only these two preparations of brinjals otherwise I wouldn't even touch it.

I accidently came across this recipe of baghare baingan. Some 3 - 4 years back we had visited some acquaintance in Hyderabad. That was the first time we were visiting that city. There I tasted karela ka khatta and loved it soo much.. After coming back to mumbai I surfed for an authentic recipe but couldn't get any. But however I got this recipe on fauzia pakistani's website. Its an amazing recipe and I love to eat it with rice any time of the day. I even have it in the evening just before tea..

RECIPE:

Ingredients:

Brinjals = 1/2 kg, tender, round and small

Onions = 2 medium, sliced

Red chillies = 5

Tamarind extract = 2 tbsp

Ginger garlic paste = 1 tblspn

Peanuts = 2 tbsp

Grated coconut = 2 tbsp

Sesame seeds = 2 tbsp

Cumin-coriander powder = 2 tbsp

Red chilli powder = 1 tbsp (or as per taste)

Turmeric powder = 1/2 tsp

Cooking oil = 4 tbsp

Salt to taste

Coriander leaves for garnishing

Method:

1. Wash the brinjals, cut the stem, leaving the canopy in place and cut 3/4 of the lengthof each brinjal into a criss cross, leaving the attached at the other end.

2. Heat 2 tblspn of oil in a thick wide pan and add the brinjals. Sprinkle some salt and leave the brinjals to cook until well done and soft.

3. In the meantime roast the peanuts, sesame seeds, coconut and red chillies.

4. Heat oil in a pan. Roast the sliced onions till brown.

5. Add some water and blend all the ingredients into fine thick paste.

6. In a pan, add cook the paste for sometime. Add water if the paste is too very thick. Add salt.

7. After a while add the tamarind extract and cook till the raw smell of tamarind is gone.

8. Add the cooked brinjals and cook on a low flame until oil seperates.

9. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with rice.

Brinjals cut in criss-cross manner.

Sending this to Healing Foods - Eggplant hosted by Kavita and the event started by Siri

Apple Strawberry Lassi

2011-01-28T15:21:00.000+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

At times when my siblings leave early for their routine and I am left alone for breakfast, a bowl of porridge and a glass of smoothie is my favourite breakfast menu. Call it a easy to make breakfast than to make rotis and other stuff for one person. Love this season as variety of colorful fruits are seen in the market and strawberry - just simply love it.

This again is a newspaper cutout recipe. I had apples and instead of just again making apple milkshake thought of this change and loved it..

RECIPE:

Ingredients:
Apples = 2
Strawberries = 8-10
Plain fat yoghurt = 2 cups
Fresh limejuice = 1/2 tsp
Cold water = 2 1/2 cups
Sugar = 3 tbsp
Crushed ice as required

Method:
1. Blend all the ingredients.

2. Serve chilled.

This goes to Breakfast Club Challenge, its main host Helen.

Instant Dessert

2011-01-24T11:04:00.000+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

With the winters in its full swing I am very much tempted to eat spicy fried stuffs. Things that tops the chart are pani-poori, sev-puri, and bikaneri samosas. With the onion prices touching sky, I've controlled a lot over kanda bhajiyas (onion pakodas), otherwise thats an easy and frequently made dish at our place during winters. Turning to healthy options and fruits being my favorites, I laid my hands on this newpaper cutout recipe and loved it instantly. Its very healthy and filling.

RECIPE:

Ingredients:

Apple = 1/2 piece

Pineapple = 3 round cut pieces

Olive oil = 1/2 tsp (optional)

Grated paneer, raisins, dates and shredded almonds for garnishing.

Method:

1. In a non stick pan add olive oil and saute chopped apple and pineapple pieces.

2. Cook till tender.

3. Remove from flame. Garnish with grated paneer, raisins, dates and shredded almonds.

Note: I was too lazy to grate the paneer here, so just cut them into strips alongwith dates.

Sending this to Tasteofpearlcity's Any One Can Cook : Series 13.

Crocheted Squares

2011-01-23T16:49:00.004+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

These are few squares that I had crocheted using stash wool. Thought of making something out of them but the thickness varied for each square and they are just like that with me still.... Love their colors but clueless how to use them altogather.....

Methi-Makki Rotis

2011-01-22T20:21:00.002+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

After posting paneer haryali how could I not post methi makki rotis. It is one of the best thing I've ever tasted with paneer haryali. I am simply in love with the sweet taste that this roti carries. Apart from the wheat, rice, ragi, bajra, jowari rotis which I've made number of times before too. Makai rotis stole my heart in first time itself. And over and above, I enjoyed making them...

RECIPE:

Ingredients:
Makai flour = 2 cups
Methi leaves = 2 cups
Green chillies = 2-3
Salt to taste

Method:
1. Finely cut methi leaves and green chillies.

2. Mix into makai flour with salt and knead it with lukewarm water.

3. Rest the dough for 1/2 hr.

4. Prepare rotis by wetting the hands. Do not roll them, just flatten them on a plastic sheet by using palms and fingers.

5. Roast them same as we do for rotis/chapatis. Be generous on using asli ghee while roasting the rotis. Serve hot.

Paneer Haryali

2011-01-19T12:18:00.002+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

The climate here is very chilly nowadays. And so is my taste - chillies, hot, spicy, sweet. Thats what I am going through nowadays, I wanna have all these taste togather. So I started digging into my newspaper cutouts. There I saw this paneer haryali with methi makai roti. That very moment I thought it would be perfect for a cold winter dinner.. I had made paneer haryali before too and it was loved by everybody. But tasting it with methi makai roti was a first time experience and it was heavenly...

RECIPE:

Ingredients:

For Paste:
Palak = 1 cup
Methi = 1/2 cup
Coriander leaves = 1/2 cup
Garlic = 6 flakes
Ginger = 1/2 inch piece
Green chillies = 3
Curd = 1/4 cup

For Curry:
Paneer = 250 gms
Onions = 1 big, sliced
Mawa = 2 tbsp
Kaju paste = 2 tbsp
Salt = to taste
Haldi = 1/4 tsp
Garam Masala = 1/4 tsp
Water = 1 cup

Method:
1. Blanch palak and methi leaves. Grind to a paste with all the ingredients.

2. Heat oil and saute onion till golden brown.

3. Add the ground paste and stir fry for 2-3 mins.

4. Add mawa, kaju paste, salt, haldi, garam masala and water. Let it simmer for some time.

5. Add paneer pieces and let it cook further for some more time.

6. Garnish with grated paneer ( here I was exhausted of paneer so I used til) and serve hot with methi makai rotis.

This goes to Food palette series green at torviewtoronto

Why No One Killed Jessica....

2011-01-15T21:37:00.051+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

Today I saw no one killed jessica at my friend sami's place. I never wanted to see that film but ultimately after watching didi's wedding video tupi started with that film.... I got so involved in that film that some instances I felt i've lived them.. And yes this kind of thing I have lived up in the past. Like sabrina in the last part I too left hope for all the good things. Felt there is no thing like justice anymore in this world... When people like jessica are killed infront of major of the people it is termed as murder, but what with those people whose own family give them slow deaths and term it as sickness... Is it not a murder? I know it is a murder and i've seen one of this kind.. Fought with my own people to lemme fight for her justice, but they were the one who stopped me for being a girl and as why I am getting involved when she was not at all related to me...

Whether she was related to me or not is not important. What was important was that that could be me too someday. Though she was no one related to me but still gave me lots of love, motherly affection. I was a very very bubbly and chirpy girl but this incident has taken all that from me... I cannot forget it but I try not to remember it. It only hurts me, people have lost heart, have lost feelings.. All are just busy with their own life, time kahan hai.. And kyun kisi ke liye kuch karna hai, what does its going to matter anybody.... Everybody has developed an ego - a very bad ego.... We don't at all care what others are going through...

I am really feeling very bad and lonely today.. I could have done something for that lady but I couldn't do it. I couldn't hold up for long and started crying for the scene when sabrina comes at 5 p.m. at India gate. My friend knows I am over-sensitive and thats why she didn't let me watch the whole movie and took me out for a panipuri and malai kulfi treat.

I followed jessica's story earlier through newspapers but because it got media attention it became a campaign, a sensation. But there are many more people where media hasn't reached.. What about them... One more person I remember and she is the wife of that sweeper whom kasab and his mates killed near the c.s.t. That poor lady after her husband's death her in-laws took the money that govt. provided for them and disowned her stating that she has no right to stay with them as her husband is no more.. In which century are we living and are we really living or just existing without any purpose...

Feeling very hurt, don't know why I am writing all this but really I don't think I alone can do anything for anyone... My family my friends stop me at every step just because they feel I am over-sensitive and get involved with people's feelings too much.. I should maintain a distance with every relation. But is it wrong to share my love, share my time for those people who need me. Is it wrong to give some happiness even to those people who are not even remotely related..

When my friend saw me crying she said why am I crying just watch it like a movie... I really felt very bad for her these words. Will she say the same when something happens to me ( she loves me a lot). That time the thing will be different. For everyone of us, until and unless something doesn't happens to us or to those people whom we are closely attached to we never wake up... We don't care.. Is it correct?

Finally for Jessica,,, though the culprit is behind bars, but I am sure he must be enjoying there too at his will. He has recently applied for a bail too.. And probabaly he may get it too.. It won't matter to anybody now. But in our coutry justice is always delivered very late. And justice delayed is justice denied. It holds no importance when all the feelings, all the hurt, all the pain has dried down.....

Methi Rice

2011-01-13T17:24:00.000+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

I am a great fan of leafy vegetables. I love to have them even everyday but my siblings get bored having them every other day. I love to experiment with it and add more color to my greens. The yellow-green combi in food always attracts me towards it. The above recipe is from one of the newspaper cuttings I always wanted to try. My people don't appreciate leafy veg in rice so I am always skeptical to prepare it. However couldn't stop myself from trying this when I saw this event at torviewtoronto blog.

Once again as usual I repeat, please excuse my photography. Its when I cook something therez no other thing in my mind than to just devour it off as soon as possible. So presentation and photography becomes a big hurdle ;-D

RECIPE:

Ingredients:

Rice = 1/4 kg

Oil = 2 tblspn

Dried red chilli = 1, broken into pieces

Hing = a pinch

Rai = 1 tsp

Urad dal = 1 tsp

Chana dal = 1 tsp

Green chilli = 3, chopped

Kadipatta = 8-10

Methi leaves = 2 cups, washed, cleaned and finely chopped

Haldi = 1/2 tsp

Salt = to taste

Juice of 1 medium sized lemon.

Method:

1. Cook the rice and allow it to cool completely.

2. Heat oil, add red chilli, rai and hing. When it starts to splutter, add both the dals, green chillies and kadipatta. Fry till dals turn golden brown.

3. Now add methi leaves and cook for sometime, stirring continously in between.

4. Then add haldi and salt. Stir fry till fenugreek is cooked.

5. Before removing from heat stir in lemon juice.

6. Add methi leaves mixture to the rice. Mix well. Cook for another 5 minutes, just to get a faint color of the leaves to the rice...

7. Serve hot.

I forward this recipe to the Food Palette Series Green at Torviewtoronto. Thank you for organizing such lovely events.

Gulgule

2011-01-10T10:51:00.002+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

When I ate this the first time I instantly fell in love and I was just a school going kid that time. I used to ask mom to make this often but while growing up I slowly slowly forgot all about this. This ramzan, I had kept a few bananas in the refrigerator. The bananas were already very ripe and by keeping them in refrigerator its skin turned black. My siblings refused to eat it. Thought to make banana milkshake out of it but suddenly remembered this long lost recipe. Though the gulgulays are lill sweet my siblings loved it very much, but they find it hard to appreciate. So next time when they wanted me to prepare it again, they quietly kept bananas in the refrigerator again... :-)

RECIPE:

Ingredients:

Bananas = 2

Grated Jaggery = 2 tblspn

Elaichi powder = a pinch

Wheat flour = as much needed to mix.

Method:

1. Mash the bananas. Add grated jaggery and elaichi powder in it. Mix well.

2. When all the above ingredients are mixed well add wheat flour as much as needed to make the paste little thick.

3. Keep it to rest for 15-20 mins.

4. Deep fry till golden brown.

Malai Gola - Celebrating New Year

2011-01-09T19:47:00.001+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

This is my first post in the new year. Yesterday me and my friend met, and this was our first meet since the new year began. It was not a planned visit but turned out to be very great. Just simple fun and loads of yak-yaking... I reached her home and she came at my place to pick me up... Gadbad ghotala.... Then when I called her up she told me to wait at her place. After that we both left to see the exhibition that neelam didi said is going on the exhibition ground. And it is quiet a good distance away from our place.. We however decided to walk. We usually prefer walking as we get more time to talk and talk.. Thats what we love the most when togather.

On the way we ate paneer panipuri near to Navratna. It was awesome and toooo tasty yesterday. I still have doubts that he gave us one puri less. And we did argue on that for a while. Ultimately when reaching the exhibition ground we realised there is no exhibition going on there. Not ready to give up the fun mood we decided to go to center one mall and have something cold. That panipuri wala bhaiya had made some teekhi paanipuris.. After reaching the food court we were just roaming undecided what to have. Finally we stopped on to the malai gola counter and ordered that. We also asked for sitaphal icecream bt that was not available. However we settled in with malai gola and I should say it was very very very very yummy... Filled with nuts, malai, kala-khatta, strawberry syrup, khus syrup etc. Then we thought of having something spicy with it and samidha bought in double grilled sandwich. All these was so filling that we really really got talli after all these.

We came back walking and continuing our talks. We were so filled that we couldn't even have dinner. Life is very beautiful and it becomes more beautiful with such moments. Nothing special but when we have good company with us, it becomes more beautiful and the time we spend with each other becomes memory for life....

Baby Blanket

2010-12-31T16:37:00.002+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

I had this baby blanket since long in my drafts. And I forgot all about it to post it here. Today while checking out all the drafts I came to this blanket and thought of posting it instantly. I made this blanket out of sheer boredom. I wanted to crochet something but didn't knew what... ( that's how confused I am sometimes). Although I was sure that I wanted to do some baby project but not a dress again this time. I've made lots of it.. So while surfing ravelry I came to this granny square blanket. Instantly it caught my attention and was quiet easy to prepare.

The next moment the wools were on my crocheting needle. I loved making this blanket, only thing that I feel the first small yellow square is lill tilted. Dunno where I made mistake but anyways I loved this granny square blanket. After completing when I showed this blanket to my mom and nani, they both teased me that it will best fit to my doll. Well I didn't had more wool to make it more bigger in size so I left it there itself. However looking me upset my mom assured that it may be used for a newly born baby too.. I became happy hearing this - Only she asked me not to gift it to anybody ;-)

Gajar Ka Halwa

2010-12-30T13:38:00.005+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

This is the season of red carrots. I love to prepare carrot juice and halwa during this season. Gajar ka halwa is one thing which gets disappeared as soon as it is made at our place. This time the major of the part was finished off my nani ;-D It gives me immense happiness when someone finishes off by my preparations so soon and happily.... Otherwise my siblings.. they rarely appreciate and are always skeptical to eat my experimatal stuffs.... ;-)

RECIPE:

Ingredients:
Carrots = 1 kg
Milk = 1/2 cup
Sugar = 4 tblspn
Ghee = 1 tblsp
Elaichi Powder = 1 tsp
Mawa = 50 gms

Method:

1. Wash, clean and grate the carrots.

2. Put them in cooker, add milk and take 2-3 whistles.

3. Remove the lid. Add sugar and ghee to the carrots and let it cook till it becomes dry. Keep stirring in between.

4. Once it comes to be dry add elaichi powder and mawa in it. Let it cook for more 15 mins.

5. Cool and serve.

Note:

1. There is always an option of making this halwa either dry or lill juicy. If you want to make it dry, cook till all the moisture in it evaporates. If want a lill juicy let it retain some in it. Either way it tastes great. Here I have tried to make this halwa as healthy as possible by adding less sugar and ghee.

Dad's Sweater

2010-11-30T17:01:00.005+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

I had knitted this sweater for my dad some two years back. This was my first individual knitting project. Earlier my mom would give me some few lines to knit. She taught me what right and wrong stitch means in knitting terms. However I never took much interest in knitting as I felt it to be a very slow process. Only thing I love about knitting is the needles. Don't know why but I have this fascination for knitting needles and it is they which compel me to start to knit something.

I knitted this sweater with the help of a neighbour. Although it was for my dad, it fits me perfectly. So ultimately keeping it for myself... Keeping means again stacking up ;-) Please excuse for the bad photography..

Tea Cosy

2010-11-29T17:06:00.000+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

During winters it feels special when tea is served this way. A tea cosy makes a simple breakfast special. It gives a cosy romantic feel. Would love even more having tea served this way near a fireplace. WOW!!! I love fireplaces, but mumbai doesn't needs one, does it? :-(

This pattern is again from a marathi pattern book given to me by archana didi. She too had made this type of cosy and I instantly fell in love with it.. I used all the scrap yarns to make this.

My Beautiful Doily

2010-11-28T16:50:00.002+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

I love making doilies, but as usual I rarely tend to use it. Again my mom complains for that. However I can't help to stop makin it. This one I made after a long time and was very happy with the outcome. Looks cute. So planning to make some more but bigger in size, may be to gift them to people. I think this the best time to make them as my mom is not here with me so won't have to hear any more complaints....

Masterchef In Udaipur

2010-11-28T12:35:00.044+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

Missed my Akshay Kumar's masterchef yesterday. Today around 11.30 it just clicked me and I instantly switched my channel on starplus, just to check if its showing the repeat telecast. Was just on seventh heaven when saw akshay kumar standing in a beautiful outfit... Looked like a prince, had to hold my heart to see if its safe and yet there. I as it is love Rajasthan very much, the barren deserts and colorful people. My akshay kumar and the fort was like icing on the cake.. Was just amazed to watch the contestant cook in the Raj Rasoi... Hats off to all the contestants. Its not an easy task and with the courage and determination they were performing they deserve a bow.....

This episode was mesmerizing. The way the food is served to the king, the interiors of the fort, it was all so breath taking. The only thing which I didn't like in it was the uniforms of the darbaris.. It somewhat looked like firangis uniforms from Jhaansi ki rani. I feel it should've been something more traditional, isn't it?

Well, I think I should concentrate on food. Shweta and Joe's team was on a low since start,, she was concentrating on authencity and nothing else... The 'me being a rajasthani factor' ate her up. Felt bad for Joe. He is a very good and strong contestant. Me view is, he lost because of shweta, half the time helping her to burn the shegdi..

Pankaj and Jayanandan's team is a very thoughtful one. Both the contestants are upto the mark, have good co-ordination with each other. Loved the sone chandi ki moong and caramelised phirni.. Yup as the king commented, phirnis should be served in the gilli mitti bowl, it gives a distinct flavour to the phirni and is an unwritten part of a recipe.

Zebi and Ankita. One strong other wrong. Here I feel zebi lost because of ankita. Zebi completed her task and was running around to complete ankita's share. This time tough luck zebi,, her food was good but kandla and smita walked away with the thaal. Their lehariya mirch stole the show...

And now the winning team - Kandla and Smita.. This time the confidence and winning streak was clearly seen on smita's face right from the beginning. I remember her on blackforest rasgulla cake episode... Then and today, the intution in me told somehow she will surely win today... Cheers Ladies... Great Job.... Please pass on the lehariya mirch recipe.... ;-D I am fida over it...

Overall I enjoyed very very much today... It was like a complete meal, all done with the fort, the interiors, the shahi way of serving, and my cutie pie akshay.... Loved the episode today.

Experimenting..... Loneliness....

2010-11-27T22:54:00.003+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

My cooking has gone for a toss since after Eid. Currently we are only three persons at home and that too most of the time spent outside for work.. Usually get togather only for dinner. Me being the only one who comes back for lunch, don't at all feel to eat the leftovers alone and then cook fresh for dinner. The experimental keeda in me is kicking and I desperately want to try out something new, something different. But I dare not take a chance as ultimately that too would go in some compartment of refrigerator and wait untill I eat it or innovate it...

There was this veg in my refrigerator since two days, I ended up making sandwiches out of it. I had few pieces of bread left and one evening I felt hunger pangs itching out on me. So ultimately made bread pakoras with those leftover bread pieces. Didn't had the patience to click pics to post it here, so someother time..

I am cooking only half a cup rice for the three of us for dinner alongwith 3-4 rotis. But that rice too remains and ultimately gets stocked up in the refrigerator. Tomorrow is sunday, everybody at home, so thinking to make use of that rice by preparing kheer,, lets see.

I literally got bored, just wish that atleast my nani comes to stay with us for a few days... Atleast I'll get a reason to be back in my kitchen... experimenting....

Paani Puri - Golgappa Shooters

2010-11-26T23:16:00.013+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

Paani Puri!!!!!! I LOVE IT to no extent. Saw it on masterchef and was very keen to try it...Chef Ajay Chopra and Kunal Kapoor showed golgappa shooters. My mouth started watering then and there itself. Yummy yummy yummy......... Above are the golgappa shooters. From right, Orange - Sepu flavour. Next below is Guava - Coriander flavour. Third above is Tomato - Coriander flavour. And the left last one is Apple - Mint - Tea flavour. Well when I started out with it I didn't checked out things in my kitchen.. But as it always happen, be it with my crochet or cooking. I ran out of few ingredients required in the recipe. Ultimately had to do without it...

This is the filling I prefer most. Khari boondis, sprouted moong and boiled vatanas. I still get confused over vatanas, soyabeans and chawlis. They look the same to me.. ;-) Wish my mom was here. She too loves paani puri very much. Whenever we make paani puris at home therez a competition between us as in who will eat the most. Missed her this time very much.

Paani puris are called as junk food. Hence I always try to add something healthy to junk foods so that I can atleast give my excuse to have them more often. Here sprouts come to my rescue...

Orange - Sepu :-

Ingredients:
Orange juice = 250 ml
Sepu veg = 1 tbsp
Black salt = 2 pinch
Zeera powder = 2 pinch
Lemon juice = as per taste

Method:
1. Cut sepu veg very finely.

2. Mix into orange juice along with all other ingredients. Serve chilled.

Guava - Coriander :-

Ingredients:
Guava juice = 250 ml
Zeera powder = 1 tblsp
Coriander leaves = 1 tblsp
Black salt = 4-5 pinch
Tabasco sauce

Method:
1. Cut coriander leaves very finely.

2. Mix in with all the above ingredients.

Note:
I didn't had tabasco sauce in my kitchen so I made without it.

Tomato - Coriander :-

Ingredients:
Tomato Juice = 250 ml
Coriander leaves = 1 tblspn
Salt = 1 pinch
Lemon juice = as per taste.
Celery
Tabasco sauce

Method:
1. Chop celery and coriander leaves finely.

2. Gind tomatoes to a pulp and squeeze out its juice.

3. Add rest of the ingredients. Mix well.

Note:
1. Here again I didn't used tabasco sauce and celery as both were not available in my kitchen.

2. Next I didn't boiled tomatoes, so the juice had a lill raw taste. It may taste lill diff if boiled and then grinded for juice..

Apple - Mint - Tea :-

Ingredients:
Apple juice = 250 ml
Mint leaves = 10 - 12
Tea bag = 1
Water
Lemon juce

Method:
1. Put tea bags in boiling water.

2. Either use tetra packed apple juice or make a fresh one.. Here I have made fresh apple juice.

3. Finely chop mint leaves.

4. Mix togather tea water, apple juce, lemon juice and mint. Serve.

This is the regular paani poori which we usually eat near the mini seashore... I made the water using everest paani poori masala. Then I made tamarind jaggery chutney to go with it..

For Chutney

Ingredients:

Tamarind extract = 1/2 cup

Jaggery = 1/4 cup

Jeera powder = 4 tsps

Black salt = 2 tsps

Red chilli powder = 1 tsp

Garam masala = 1 tsp

Method:

1. Mix all the above ingredients and keep it to boil.

2. Let it simmer for 5 minutes. Remove and cool.

For Pani Puri Water

Ingredients:

Water = 1 litre

Coriander leaves = 1/2 cup

Mint leaves = 1/2 cup

Ginger garlic paste = 1 tsp

Green chillies = 3

Black salt = 2 tsps

Jeera powder = 2 tsps

Everest paani puri masala = 2 tsps

Lemon juice = 1 tbsp

Salt to taste

Method:

1. Grind all the above ingredients with little water.

2. Pour in a vessel, and keep it still for an hour.

3. After an hour pass this water through a sieve and serve chilled.

I had made pani puris a day before eid. Couldn't post earlier as there was some probs with both my laptop and computer. However enjoyed eating pani puris. On eid people usually start their day by having sheerkhurma. I started with pani pooris.. I ate something around 40 - 45 in the evening. Some were left so kept it in the refrigerator. Next morning when I opened the refrigerator just couldn't resist the sight of pani puris, so gulped down some good 15-20 puris that time. :-D

This is my entry to "Only Chaat" event.

Edited on 28th Nov, 2010

The chefs recipes for golgappa shooters is up on their website.... Check it out... Just saw it and realised i've missed on few ingredients somewhere..

Veg Kolhapuri

2010-11-15T17:37:00.062+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

There was nothing at home that I could cook today. And I wanted something vegetarian. Only preparing any sabzi won't do with rice, wanted some gravy too.. Just then it clicked me to prepare veg kolhapuri. It is something which I am very fond of. Immediately checked out tarla dalal's and sanjeev kapoor's site. The recipe on tarla dalal's site was short whereas the list was too long on sanjeev kapoor's site. However I opted for sanjeev kapoor only. Turned out too good than what I usually order from sahyadri hotel.. Thank you sanjeev sir...

RECIPE:

Ingredients:

Mixed vegetables = 1 cup, I used the packet one.

Ginger garlic paste = 2 tblspn

Fresh grated coconut = 1/2 cup

Cloves = 8

Black peppercorns = 8

Poppy seeds (khus khus) = 1 tspn

Coriander seeds = 1 tsp

Whole red chillies = 6

Onions = 2 large

Tomatoes = 2 large

Paneer =1/2 cup (optional)

Red chilli powder = 1 1/2 tsp

Turmeric = 1 tsp

Salt = to taste

Garam Masala

Fennel seeds = 1/2 tsp

Cinnamon = 1 inch stick

Stone flower (dagad phool) = 1

Cumin seeds = 1/2 tsp

Bay leaves = 2

Black cardamoms = 2

Black peppercorns = 7 - 8

Method:

1. Grind all the ingredients of garam masala into a fine powder.

2. Heat oil in a pan, add grated coconut, cloves, peppercorns, khus khus, coriander seeds and red chillies. Lightly fry.

3. Now add 2/3 of the chopped onions and cook till it turns slightly brown.

4. The mixture has started to change color. Cool and grind to a paste using sufficient water.

5. Heat remaining oil in another pan. Add remaining chopped onions and saute till brown.

6. Add ginger garlic paste, tomatoes and continue to saute.

7. Add red chilli powder, haldi, grinded masala, grinded paste, 1/2 cup of water and cook.

8. Continue to cook until oil leaves the side.

9. Add vegetables and salt and let it simmer.

10. Add paneer pieces and cook it for some more while.

Serve hot.

Note:

1. I made certain changes as few things were not available in my kitchen. The recipe demanded dry coconut but that was not available, instead I used freshly grated one. I used mixed vegetables packet as all the veggies were also not there. And hence I didn't have to boil them. Otherwise the recipe needs veggies to be boiled.

Crocheted Baby Dress

2010-11-15T09:52:00.011+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

I crocheted this dress during my baby mania. But kept it away and later on forgot all about it. It was when I gifted my mamu's friend's newborn daughter that I remembered this dress and immediately took it out. I made this out of all the remaining wools of baby dresses. I had no option but to finish off the wools before my mom comes back. As these are baby wools, I can't think anything better to crochet than a baby dress. Hence made this one more. When I removed this, it immediately clicked to me that I had made a baby dhingri too. Whoa!! How could I forget that stuff. It was one of my favourites and I was searching some matching pair of buttons for it.. I searched in and out wherever I could keep all my stuffs, but didn't get that dress. There is only one place left which I feel it may be there. Lemme see if I get it there. I hope it should be there only otherwise i'll really be disheartened. I had made that dress with lots of love. If I get it I will post it here on my blog for sure.

November Rains

2010-11-15T07:12:00.001+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

It was raining heavily today morning. The thundering shook me off my bed and I woke up coz of that. When I looked out through the window, the atmosphere looked to me from that of my school days... Aahh those days.... I would hate when it would rain early morning before going to school. Even after wearing a raincoat or carrying an umbrella, I would somehow get drenched. And sitting with that wet school dress would really put me off. I would always butter my mom for not going to school on such occassions. And my mom being a soft hearted person would always allow me in fear that I may catch a cold. However my buttering didn't used to prove fruitful everytime.. There were number of times also that my mom refused to let me stay back at home.

Yesterday night I was missing my mom very much and it has turned only worse today after the rains. Rab has created amazing people in terms of our parents. My mom says whenever we miss someone, instead of feeling sad, pray for them. Mom I am missing you very much. Please come back soon. Rab please help me and take care of my parents....

Masterchef - Children's Day Special

2010-11-14T23:40:00.001+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

Today saw Masterchef children's day special. Although couldn't see completely, had some work so was just catching some and leaving some. What touched me today was Jayanandan Bhaskar's childhood memories - he gave a small but heart touching speech about his bachpan. Later on Pankaj Bhadouria's memories about her childhood and the determination and pain she is taking to give all the joys and happiness to her kids was really heart touching...

I am sure today on and off everybody might have shed tears - Me too.... Some sort of emotional person that I am. I missed my parents very much. Really we never understand the importance of parents in our life when they are near to us. Nobody can love us the way our parents do. We hurt them many times but even though their heart is just filled with love for us.

I also liked Joe Bath's enthusiasm. He too got very emotional and the moment the judge told about his daughter that if she would have been here, he immediately turned back to see whether she really was there. He was missing his daughter very much. The heaviness in his voice made it very much clear.

My mom always says "Bachon se ghar main raunak rehti hai". That is true I accept it, but one more fact is very true - and that is a home could never be a home when it does not have elders within it. Our elders guide us, love us, protect us. They do everything within their means and even beyond for our happiness. The thing which tops is their prayers which are always with us..

I am really missing my mom and dad today. Rab, what shall I do? You always have a solution for my problem. Today please help me. I really really need my mom besides me today. Don't know why, feeling disturbed - no reasons, nothing. Just like that. Please keep your blessings on my and everybody's parents. Protect them from all the evils of these world. Give them a loooong looooong life and a happy one too... Its you whom I trust more than anyone else. I hope with my heart you will surely accept this my small prayer today....

Phatakas

2010-11-14T10:32:00.003+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

Its a week since I clicked this pic. On last sunday when I was about to leave to meet my friend at her place for diwali... my neighbour kids came and asked me to accompany them to burst crackers as in phatakas ;-) I would be only too happy if didn't had to go out that time. I refused but they were adamant, however to turn their minds I told them that I will click the phatakas pics and then they can go out and burst it while I post it on my blog.. They agreed. I was already late so had no more time to waste, just flung my dupatta on the floor placed all the crackers they bought and quickly clicked this pic.

I would lie if I didn't post this pic on my blog. Therefore after a week, I m still posting something related to diwali.. When all my neighbour kids grow up and if they may chance to read my blog, I am sure their faith in me would be still strong as much as it is today.

Masterchef

2010-11-13T22:28:00.000+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

I couldn't help posting here today. Just saw amul's masterchef on star plus - My akshay kumar's cookery show. The other two chefs on the show ( sorry dunno their name) showed chaats recipe today. Wow!!!! my mouth started watering.... It was yummmmmmy, too good combinations, golgappe shooters, and chaat cone... I've written the recipe lemme see when I can try it and post it here. The shooters combinations are crazy cool. Apple with tea, guava with mint... Wow!!! I m just on seventh heaven.. Only the worst part was that they could eat whereas we just had to watch them eat... Wished one plate was served here too.... ;~D

My Flower Loom

2010-11-13T10:04:00.015+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

I have mostly mentioned about the flower loom in my blog. This is the flower loom on which I usually make flowers. It is just very destressing sometimes to make flowers on it. My mom gifted me a complete beginners crochet set when I was a school going kid. It was she who instilled these hobbies in me. Last year too she gifted me a plastic cane craft kit, I am yet to use that. Insha allah will do that soon.

More Crocheted Bags

2010-11-12T09:49:00.001+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

My bags craze is so much that I have only forgotton how many I have made, kept and gifted away. While searching for something I laid my hands on these purses.

This was the purse I made alongwith holi purse. Mom had asked me to crochet a big purse and these crocheted squares were remaining with me. I had already made one blanket out of these squares and didn't had any heart to make another one. So ultimately used it for bag. But this bag is yet to be used. Now my mom says who uses such bags anymore....

I had made this pattern earlier in wool, later on I made it in purse thread. Again this is just stacked up in cupboard, as I don't prefer such fancy bags... Just for my craze I made it.. I really feel bad sometimes when I think about it.

This is also another unused bag, but I love this and Insha Allah someday will surely use it. I love it s color. and the beads i've attached to it. Its called an evening purse, pattern is from crochet pattern central.

Closer...

This is again an unused bag. God!!! I dunno what I was thinking while making all these purses. Today I really feel guilty and realise my mom was correct in mentioning to make something useful,, which I will actually use, other than just satisfying my craze.

Closer look...

This is the batwa sort made out of scrap yarns. Again granny squares joined it make this sort of batwa. I don't remember where I got these square pattern but I feel the name of these square pattern is 'circle in a square'. Felt lill different so tried it out.

My Birthday Revisited

2010-11-11T13:45:00.009+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

I couldn't celebrate my birthday with my friends this time. My mom had to go to my dad's place so was just busy with those preparations. My friends did come to my place with a cake but I was away that time with mom. They left after some time. This way our celebration was incomplete. On sunday when I went at her place for diwali, there we planned up for a second birthday :-D ..... Well my treat was pending so I suggested we go out and have dinner togather. But my sami is sami, she told me to prepare a meal at home itself. They asked for fish biryani, but I was in no mood for biryanis and definately no fish biryani for that matter.

I came back home and changed the menu. Later on tuesday she called up to say that she'll bring a fresh paplet and not to buy fish, but I said I've changed the menu. Got lill scoldings (funny) from her for that. Later on again she said not to prepare any sweet as she will bring cake. Always demanding and arguing and troubling me..... ;-D

However yesterday I prepared shahi chicken curry, paneer haryali, veg cutlets, kheema cutlets, zeera rice and cheelay (dosa) and then zebra cupcakes. Since afternoon I was alone at home. And my sis had locked me in while she went away. That was so because I take in my neighbour kids and play with them all the time. By this way they may think that nobody is at home. When it began to get dark outside, my neighbour kids saw the lights on in my house. They started shouting and calling me from the window. Anjali noticed that even the kitchen light is on that means somebody surely is at home. I called up neelam didi and told her to come soon in order to save me from this screaming kids.

My bro came first and them samidha. She got so irritated seeing nobody else arrived. And when she entered the kitchen her scoldings on me started again for preparing so much and that too alone.. However slowly slowly everybody else came and fun started. Before having dinner she asked me to cut the cake.. God.... now I knew why she was so pressing in on me for the cake thing. We didn't played holi with cake na.. Yup thats what we have always been doin since ages. Until and unless we don't smear each other with cake we dnt feel we've celebrated our birthday... And that thing she did on in abundance yesterday...

I was missing my mom very much, was just upset that she went away so soon this time. My friend samidha... love her for always cheering me up... She bought the cake all the way from andheri - Merwan's. This year I celebrated my birthday by cutting 3 cakes.. Had a wonderful time yesterday. I would ask from my Rab to keep all those people happy and safe who have always loved and cared for me..

Gifted Baby Dress And Quilts

2010-11-09T14:10:00.000+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

My mamu's friend's wife delivered a baby girl and as everybody knows I love baby girls very much, I had to make these for her. I crocheted this from a marathi pattern book given to me by archana didi. The upper part of the dress is in light baby pink color but I dunno why its not showing proper color in this pic.

Dress....

Bonnet...

My mom stitched this dress and bonnet. All these are as usual made from our remaining dress pieces.

This too again stitched by my mom.

Bonnet by my mom....

Quilts:
My nani made these quilts again from remaining dress pieces.

This is one side of the quilt..

This is another side.....

This is one side of second quilt...

This another side...

Miss You Zainab Aunty

2010-11-08T17:20:00.005+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

Its being a long time that we exchanged any mails. Don't know about you but I got busy into the daily grind of life. May be same with you. I just pray and hope everything is fine at your end.

Today dunno why but I am missing you very much. Therefore my today's post is for you. Things that you had sent alongwith my swap gift were since long in my drafts folder. I think today its the right time to post them here.

When my bro first saw this toy camera, he asked me how come you know that I still behave childish.. Well!!! I dunno whether I behave childish or not but its a fact that I still receive toy gifts from people whether they know me or not. So that means nobody wants me to grow up. ;-D. Now I use this camera to show off sumeet - my neighbour kid. He gets very jealous... So what, whenever he gets new toy even he comes to show me off to make me jealaous.. And I don't care, I still have so many toys - my dolls, my cars, my barbie kitchen sets etc....

Thanks for the chocolates..... How did u knw that peanut butter is one of my favs?

Thanks for everything. May Rab bless you....

Rod

2010-11-07T16:34:00.005+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

I love baking cakes but personally I am very much fond of this healthy alternative to cakes. Rod spelt as road. This recipe is again from my mom's side. We have grown up eating this healthier version of cake. Well it is tasty as well as nutritious.

RECIPE:

Ingredients:
Eggs = 4
Ghee or butter = 100 gms
Rava (suji) = 250 gms
Powdered sugar = 3/4 cup
Baking soda = 1 tsp
Jalebi food color = a pinch
Khas khas to put over it.

Method:
1. Mix rava and ghee togather and keep it for half to one hour.

2. Beat eggs till fluffy.

3. Later mix eggs, powdered sugar, baking soda, jalebi food color into rava and ghee mixture.

4. Transfer the contents into the mould. Put khas khas over it and bake for 30 mins.

Contents in the mould....

After putting khas khas over it...

Jowari Bhakri

2010-11-06T11:31:00.002+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

Last month in my Malvani Jevan post I had mentioned about jowari bhakri. At our place my folks (siblings) usually prefer wheat rotis. A lill change and they raise their eyebrows. However I still try to prepare varieties as someday they may understand its nutrition value. This is my nani's recipe and i've learned to cook jowari bhakris from her... These bhakris are very common in the village belt of Maharashtra.

RECIPE:

Ingredients:
Jowari flour = 1 1/2 cup
Water = 2 cups
Salt to taste
Ghee = 1 tblspn

Method:
1. Boil water, add salt and ghee.

2. When the water comes to the boiling point add jowari flour and stir to mix it well.

3. Lower the flame, cover with a lid and let it cook for say 3-5 minutes.

4. Once it is done, remove it from the flame and knead it well. The dough is hot at this point but can be best knead at this point only. Can wait to let it cool though. Knead the dough well.

5. Roll out flat rotis. Put it on a heated tava. Apply lill water on the upper side on the bhakri. (This is to ensure when the bhakri is ready to be flipped. Once the water over the bhakri dries up it is ready to be turned over.)

6. Cook from the other side. Serve hot.

Note:
1. There is no hard and fast rule that 1 1/2 cup jowari flour needs 2 cups of water only. It is that when water starts boiling add as much quantity as the water requires it.. Sometime it may take in more flour sometime less.

2. Applying lill water on the upper side of the bhakri is just like greasing it with some water.

Gehu Ki Kheer

2010-11-05T15:37:00.005+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

This is an inherited recipe. My mom inherited it from my granny and me from my mom. There is a belief that the ingredients wheat, jaggery and coconut are termed as prosperity ingredients, hence many new brides prepare this kheer at their in-laws place.. the first time they have to cook in their kitchen. My mom too made it. This is the first time I am participating in an event so I couldn't think of anything better than this. It is very simple as well as nutritious. This is my entry to Celebrate Sweets - Kheer, hosted by Taste Of Pearl City also linking Nivedita's announcement page.

RECIPE:

Ingredients:
Wheat = 1/2 cup
Water = 2 cups
Coconut milk = 2 cups
Jaggery = 1/2 cup
Kachhi Saunf = 1 tblspn
Almond cashew pwdr = 2 tblspn
Elaichi pwdr = a pinch
Salt = a pinch

Method:
1. Wash and soak wheat overnight. Boil it in 2 cups of water till tender.

2. While grinding coconut to remove coconut milk, grind kacchi saunf alongwith it. It gives out a distinct flavour.

3. Later mix boiled wheat, coconut milk, jaggery, salt, elaichi powder, almond cashew powder and cook on low flame.

4. Keep stirring it once a while so that it does not stick to the bottom.

5. Cook till it becomes thick of a kheer like consistency.

6. Cool and serve.

Note:
Below is the wheat soaked overnight.

Happy Diwali

2010-11-04T21:04:00.019+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

I think this time I am first to wish 'Happy Diwali'. Well the credit goes to my lill neighbours. These rangolis were made by my kid nieghbours and me helping them. Their efforts need a mention. While we girls were making rangoli the boys got charged up and wanted to make one too. We refused stating boys dnt make it. They were adamant, we gave them a chance. However boys are boys, started fighting with each other and spoilt the one that they were making. So..... We Won....

Methi Laddoos

2010-10-31T20:09:00.001+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

When methi laddoos are prepared at home it means winter has arrived. These laddoos are prepared atleast 4 to 5 times a year at our place, usually during winters and rainy season. As kids we never liked this laddoos because of its bitter taste. But now knowing its many health benefits we eat it...

These are rich in protein, calcium, phosphorus and iron in their natural forms. Its mineral and vitamin contents are also very high and gets easily assimilated by our body. It acts as winter warmers and also control bodyaches, low-back pains. It is antiseptic, has expectorant qualities and helps in easing coughs and sore throats. It keeps respiratory system, nervous system, neuromuscular system in a good condition. It acts as a tonic for the body, strengthening bones, improves digestion, good for arthtitis, bronchitis, anemia and maintains a healthy metabolism.

Dabba full of laddoos:

This is the quota for 15 days. Mom has asked us to finish it off within 15 days, cannot keep more as it contains grated dry coconut too. So having 1 before breakfast, later mid morning breakfast, then in the evening with tea and then ultimately one after dinner...

My Birthday

2010-10-30T21:43:00.049+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

My birthdays have always been very special. All thanks to my family and friends. Everytime on my birthday I cut 2 cakes. One is from my family and one my friends bring it for me.. But that usually goes into playing cake holi. :-) This above one my brother bought it for me..

This cake my friend samidha bought for me. Well need I say how it got spoilt even before I could cut it. Ohh hoo the sort of junglis that we are.

This was my first birthday since my brother got a job. So this gift comes from him.. A beautiful necklace set. Well I should say my brother's choice is improving. Aakhir mera asar to hona hi hai na :-)

Loved this simplistic design.

This gifts are from my very best friend samidha. I once had expressed that I wanted a western coat type hijab. It was a long time but she still remembered and bought it for me on my birthday. And how could she forget my all time favorites bangles.

This is face cover that she specially searched and bought the one which she felt would be very comfortable for me. I can only appreciate her efforts.

This is the head cover which again she felt would be convienient for me to wear, so she bought this one. I really appreciate her efforts but to be true I am nt at all comfortable in this one. ; - D

Aahh haa!!! My fav bangles.. I dunno y I m soooo crazy for bangles. But the fact is I really am. And I was only too happy to get such a beautiful gift... The color combi is soo good and I just greedily opened and wore them then and there itself.

Here I am wearing the bangles...

Malvani Jevan

2010-10-26T17:47:00.001+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

I love preparing complete meals. Its not only fun but one gets variety in it. Though cooking a complete meal always is not possible in the busy lifestyle of Mumbai. However just to make my people feel special I prepare it sometimes... Today after the saandan breakfast I planned a malvani meal. It consists of fish curry, gavar sabzi, rice, fish fry, jowari bhakri and kokum kadi.

My folks loved it very much, and the happiness I saw on my mom's face was all worth my efforts.

Saandan

2010-10-26T17:26:00.011+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

My mom wanted to eat saandans today for breakfast. Its a dish from her native which I too love very much. Its been a long time that we prepared this. Saandans are usually made with rice flour but I prepared it with rawa (suji). Its lill bit sweet and quiet filling too. I got this recipe from a marathi cookery show 'KhadyaBhramanti'. Some people put charoli on top for decoration, I prefer it simple as it is.

RECIPE:

Ingredients:

Rawa (suji) = 3 cups

Coconut milk = 3 cups

Sugar = 1 1/2 cup

Baking Powder = 2 tsp

Water = 1 glass

Salt to taste

Ghee for greasing

Method:

1. Sieve rawa. Separate the fine from the coarse one.

2. Heat one glass of water. Add approx. one cup of the coarse rawa in it. Lower the flame and cover with a lid. After sometime switch off the flame.

3. Add 3 cups of coconut milk in it and mix well.

4. Add the remaining 2 cups fine rawa, 2 tsp baking powder, salt, sugar and mix well.

5. Keep this mixture for 5-6 hrs for ferment.

6. Now grease the saandan plates with ghee. Pour the batter in it. Put those in saandan moulds and steam them just like idlis. Serve hot or cold.

Note:

We usually prepare this batter previous night and leave it overnight for ferment. Saandans are usually made for breakfast at our place.

Edited: 5th Jan. 2011

This is my entry to Food Palette Series White at Torviewtoronto event.

Sabudana Papad

2010-10-24T22:35:00.001+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

Today mom prepared sabudana papad. It was a custom to make this during every summer vacation in our childhood. Although it would be made sometime between the year too but the ones prepared on our vacation were more fun. All my cousins would be here with us. We alongwith our cousins and building friends would go up on terrace. We would help mom in making these papads. These are too easy, just have to take a spoonful and tap it on the plastic sheet. While tapping spread it round.

Once the papads were done, next thing was to keep a watch on them. ;-) This means whole day on terrace - playing and doing masti. In the afternoon back for lunch and then back again on terrace. Later at around 5 in the evening nani would come up to pack all the things and bring it back home. It takes around 2-3 days to get dried.

RECIPE

Ingredients:
Sabudana (sago) = 1/2 kg
Green chillies = 8-10
Coriander leaves = 1/4 cup
Ginger garlic paste = 2 tblspn
Whole cumin = 1/4 cup
Salt to taste

Method:
1. Wash and soak sabudana overnight.

2. Next day grind togather green chillies, coriander leaves and ginger garlic paste.

3. Add this above mixture in sabudana. Then add salt and cumin and mix well.

4. Add 1 cup of water and let it cook on low flame. Stir it until sabudana starts to melt.

5. Once the sabudana melts check the consistency, it should neither be too thick nor too watery.

6. If its reached the desired consistency, remove it from the flame.

7. Spread a spoonful onto the plastic sheet and let it dry in the sun for 2-3 days.

Note:
1. We have made some with and without cumin.

Papads with cumin kept to dry...

Papads without cumin.. kept to dry.

The dried ones..

The fried ones.....

Diya

2010-10-22T14:57:00.003+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

Today aryan had diya decoration competition at his school. Yesterday we roamed whole market togather to buy diya and decoration materials. First we bought the diya then its decoration materials. However I was not keen on decorating it with other decorative stuffs. I wanted to paint it. Only on aryan's insistence I bought all those stuff.

After coming home I first started colouring it, I used rangeela color set. By that time all the other kids were troubling so had to stop in between and let the color dry. Today after waking up the first thing I did was to complete his coloring work. Just sometime before when he had to leave for school sticked the glass pieces. I was very happy with the results, but aryan was not. He wanted me to write 'Happy Diwali' on it which I was against. It would just spoil the whole look of it. He was not that happy and I felt bad, not because he was upset but because with all my heart made this for him.... and he didn't showed any excitement or happiness.

However just to cheer him up I said that he will receive highest marks for this, and if he didn't then he can come and scold me for spoiling his diya. I was really really upset but when he came back from school, saw the excitement on his face and felt relieved. Indeed he got the highest marks. Thanks Rab, for keeping my words infront of that kid.... Thank you very much..

Clips and Jewellery Bags

2010-10-20T14:25:00.002+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

My Clips Bag:
I made this a few months back and this post was in my drafts since then. I always misplace my things and when I need them I am searching all over the house. I thought of organizing my stuffs. Therefore made this bag to store all my clips and rubberbands.

I love these small baby clips sooooo much, I still use them

My Earrings Bag:
I always complain that I don't much use the stuff I make. My mom says its because I stuff them up in the cupboard and forget all about it. Hence this time I came up with this bag to store all my earrings so that it comes handy whenever I need it. I am happy now. Its actually working and I am really using all those earrings now.

My Fav Jewelleries

2010-10-19T15:40:00.002+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

As I said I love jhumkas very much, I was searching for one in maroon color to wear it with meenakari necklace for Eid. The one which I was getting was expensive and quiet heavy type. People call me marwari to some extent. I didn't wanted to shell up so much on a pair of jhumkas. But I desperately wanted one. After searching for long my heart finally went for this pair. And it is just for 80 bucks. I instantly bought it and was very very happy...

I love to say that I am a proud owner of this thing. It is worn on the sarees. I love it sooooo much that I had worn this during neelam didi's wedding... It will always be treasured...

Treasure Hunt Once Again

2010-10-19T15:24:00.005+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

My love for jewellery making has brought me to this extent that wherever I see any different or new design I immediately want to make it even if I use it or not. However my mom loves all that I make and appreciates it. I saw this kind of necklace in some serial and immediately started out to make it. It looks ravishing and elegant with the touch of simplicity.

I wanted to make something in blue color shades, so came up with this. The stones are lill darker in shade than the blue crystals. It gives out a very beautiful effect (although I could not capture it on my camera here). My mom wore it first for some occassion. My mehnat vasool...

This pattern is same as the above one.. only made with purple maroon combi..

This necklace is inspired by the necklace of Archana from Pavitra Rishta on Zee Tv. Its my mom's and nani's fav serial. Archana had worn this during some wedding function, only it was in gold. I am not a goldy person so thought to sober it down with pearls. It is so lovely that I am planning to make it one more with red kundan pendant.

Remember this pendant and earring set... I had bought this from Sahara Arts and Handicrafts Exhibition early this year. As I had planned to use pearls for this meenakari pendant, I added a dash of maroon crystal alongwith small golden beads to go with the pendant. I wore this on Eid and received lots of compliments. When people ask from which shop I bought this neckpiece, it makes me feel happy to tell them "Khud banaya janab".

This necklace I came up with all the remaining stuff from my previously made necklace. Few kundans, Gugris and Crystals were left and I didn't wanted to make another heavy set so made this one. It looks very delicate on the neck and instantly attracts attention.

My mom asked me to prepare something delicate in golden. I usually avoid using only golden and always add a dash of color in my necklaces. But this time with this request I got into lill thinking mode... and made this. When I started out with it, I was unsure how it would turn out to be, but my mom loved the results and appreciated my work. My aunts and uncles too liked it and got looking at it keenly.

Closer look....

This type of thing I saw in Centre One mall. It was a lill more than thousand bucks. I just liked the stone chakri used in between otherwise I am not all hearts with this one. It was only that my mom insisted that I made this one. My folks loved it..

And I loved this one very much. It has angular pearl beads and zero no. golden beads. Though its quiet simple but looks very beautiful. I love to wear it.

My mamma ( yup we call her mamma coz she don't have any daughters and take us to be one) from Hyderabad had sent this colorful ghungrus. Actually she had used these ghungrus on one of my sarees and these were the remaining ones. She very well knows I will use it somehow. Since a long time it was just packed up in my closet. When I got into jewellery making mode, I thought of making some daily wear earrings for myself. (although I always say but rarely wear them). But this I really wanted something colourful and cheery. At once these ghungrus clicked my mind and I dig them up from my closet. Now indeed I wear them and its my fav pair. The colors and the jhum jhum sound it does always cheers me up and makes me happy.

I used less ghungroos here on my lill sis requests.

This is again for my lill sis on her request. She asked me to make only a pair of earrings from the above necklace set so that she can use it as her daily wears.. I added more stone chakris in it.

This is again from hyderabad and I turned them into earrings..

Same as above... Turned them to earrings for daily wears..

These leaves are again from hyderabad. I bought them when we visited that city. I had bought it with the intention to work it on some saree or dress but ultimately ended up making earrings.

Same.... Flowers from hyderabad ....

Same again.. I love this type of earring so made it in so many. It always team up good with my jeans-kurtis, tops etc.

These droplets again from hyderabad and they look simple yet beautiful..

I loved the color and cuts of this crystal. Hence made earrings out of them. They look simple, sober but very classy.

While making all these I thought to add some fun element. It was afternoon and after having lunch my sis bought in a bunch of bananas. It immediately clicked me to make something like that. I started digging out my stuff but couldn't find anything similar hence came up with these. It reminds me of colorful bananas as in fairyland.. My favourite place.

Now when I was making earrings with each and everything I had so why to leave out this stuff. This stuff is again from hyderabad and I turned them into earrings.

This is my first Jhumkas. I love jhumkas very much. It has been extensively used and hence not in a condition to wear it anymore, the hook over one is broken. I will Insha Allah come up with more jhumkas in the near future.

My younger mamu's wife bought this kind of mangalsutra for herself. I and my mom instantly liked the design. Its a small and cute one. So I made this for my mom.

Closer......

This is another one, simple yet lovely design.

Loved the oblong golden beads very much...

This is yet another simple design that my mom loves to wear...

My mom is not a big fan of this heavy mangalsutra but I love to make it...

Closer....

This again was on my mom's request. She wanted something in silver color rather than the usual golden stuff. I had this pendant and therefore made it jsut with black beads.. Although this one has nothing special in it but my mom loved it very much.

I am crazy for bangles. How can I not make any for that reason..

Chocolate Cupcakes

2010-10-17T23:48:00.001+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

I was just not done with afternoon's cooking today so end up making chocolate cupcakes. Today saw that on sanjeev kapoor's cookery show Khana Khazana and was tempted to taste it. I started out with the recipe at around 9.45 p.m. and later realised I didn't have flour. So asked my mom to tell my youngest sis to bring it. If I'll tell myself she won't go. However she was still reluctant but on mom's insistence gave in.

I am exhausted today but the excitement of baking a cake has no measure and that's the only thing that has kept me up still. And my cupcakes too are turning out too good. The best compliment I received from my bro... he told my mom that next time he'll take some to his office. I dunno whether I should take it as a compliment or added work on me... This brothers are so mean na.. The cupcakes started disappearing as soon as I took out one batch and went into the kitchen to put another batch. Even while clicking these pics my bro was chupke se trying to run away with those cupcakes as in troubling me.. running after him.. huh!!

RECIPE:

Ingredients:

Dark cooking chocolate = 60 gms, chopped

Butter = 100 gms

Powdered sugar = 1 1/2 cups, sifted

Eggs = 4

Maida = 1 3/4 cups

Baking powder = 3 tspn

Milk = 1/2 cup

Vanilla essence = 2 tspns

Cocoa powder = 2 tblspn

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180 degree C. Lightly grease the muffin moulds.

2. Melt the chocolate in the microwave for a minute, or by a double boiler method. Heat five tablespoons of water and add to the melted chocolate and whisk till well blended.

3. Place the butter in a bowl and sift the powdered sugar into it and whisk together.

4. Break two eggs and add to the butter sugar mixture and blend with a hand blender. Break two more eggs and add. Blend till well blended. Add the chocolate mixture and mix well.

5. Sift maida and baking powder into the bowl and continue to blend with the hand blender. Add milk and vanilla essence blend again.

6. Sift cocoa powder into the bowl and blend till everything gets mixed properly.

7. Pour the batter over till the moulds are three fourths full.

8. Place the moulds in the preheated oven and bake for twenty five to thirty minutes.

9. Check with a skewer. If it comes out clean the cupcakes are done. If they are not done bake for five minutes more.

10. Cool, demould and serve.

Sunday Feast

2010-10-17T23:26:00.001+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

Sometimes my battery turns on in cooking mode in such a way that I just don't feel like coming out of the kitchen. I was really really in a good cooking mood today.. The menu for today was undecided but once when I got into the kitchen one by one things started playing in my mind and I got on to prepare them.. Initially I was just about to make Achari Gosht and Baghara Rice. Then I thought to add Sepu veg. Later on saw this big chillies lying in the veg compartment of the refrigerator. Thought to use it up too. Then felt like eating tandoori roti along with achari gosht so came up with that too.. Ultimately it was sweet that was only left. What better than mohanthal which I wanted to eat but it never came out well with me.

Today mom helped me with the sweet and it came out exactly the way I wanted it to be. Actally I had eaten perfect mohanthal during my home science days. I had this guju friend who made perfect mohanthals.. I instantly became a great fan of this sweet. However I could never myself prepare it... I always cherished this desire to make perfect mohanthals but it always became soft whereas mohanthals are lill bit on the harder side. Today they were amazing, and I really love my mom for this.

Ultimately at the end I was soooo happy with my cooking today.. I was just impatient to try it out. My mom loved everything I cooked today.. and thats what matters to me the most....

Rice Sev With Coconut Milk

2010-10-15T22:24:00.024+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

This was a staple breakfast during our childhood. I don't know what actually its name is but as a kid I used to call it "puttu'. The combination of hot home cooked rice sev and cold coconut milk is simple yummilicious..... I can have it any time of day and is quiet filling too. After a long time today I prepared this and it was devoured by all in no time.

Ready to attack.....

Edited on 5th Jan. 2011

This is my entry to Food Palette Series White at Torviewtoronto event

My Art Class

2010-10-10T22:23:00.003+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

Its really amazing how Rab answers our prayers so soon sometimes. I think its only last month that I posted about my love for paintings. And today I attended my first class of art. I simply love my Rab for being so nice to me. With the busy schedule I was just ignoring certain things and bolting up my feelings for them - painting is one among them. Besides my Rab I would really thank archana didi for this. And I would also thank janabji for this ;-D I am just so very happy to be back with my paintings, I just don't know how to express it here.

This as usual was my first assignment. And hey can you all see that 'v. good' over it. :-B I am so so so so so very happy. It still feels so good to receive a v.good from teachers.

Next was pencil shadings and we started out with diyas. I think even after a long time I am still pretty good at it.

Funny Little Things

2010-10-09T15:53:00.002+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

Since I got my new scooty, I didn't test ride it in front of my bro. Today morning he was at home and me and my youngest sis thought to go out for a ride alongwith him.. So excited I was to show my driving skills to my bro that in my excitement I didn't wear my Hijab, just covered my face with a scarf over jeans and kurti. My sis too had worn jeans. After a long test drive my bro went away and we both the sis were pretty enjoying ourselves like small kids.

After sometime we thought to head back home. We came back and parked our vehicle in our compound ground. No sooner did we parked, we received a call from my second sis saying that Janabji has come. Now thats like a hiroshima bomb falling on us. I dunno whether I should call it as a coincedence or not but it happens everytime. Whenever me or my sis wears jeans, janabji has to come. However that I wear hijab so it doesn't matters what I am wearing within, but my sis doesn't wears it. So she always gets into this probs time and again.
This time the probs was a lill serious type. Not only we both have worn jeans, besides me not wearing my hijab but also my kurti was short, like a lill above mid thigh size. I think I should give a lill intro of janabji.. or else everybody might think him to be a taliban. Hahahaha.
Janabji was our arabic tutor. He taught my youngest sis and bro. Now that we are grown up we usually restrict ourselves from coming infront of him. However he is a cool person not like a taliban. Its just out of respect that we usually avoid him ;-D My parents are very cool, they've never forced anything on us, its always our wish and they have respected it. It is only on us to keep up their faith and trust. Even if we would have come up in jeans infront of him, mom wouldn't have told anything but he being more on the traditional side, we didn't wanted to embarass either him or ourselves.
So what now? Told mom that we've already reached and can't wait to get back home until he goes away. So my mom (I love her for this) she said she'll drop our nighties and dupattas through the balcony. We can wear it over our jeans and come home. She said she'll handle it by saying we had just gone on the ground floor to meet one of our neighbour didi (we never go anywhere in our night dress :-D ).
Really life is sometimes so funny and exciting, one has to be a sport for all this. My mom put up our nighties and dupattas in a plastic bag tied it to a rope and slowly let it down. While we were standing to hold on that bag archana didi who stays on the ground floor saw all this commotion and came to our rescue. She asked us about all this and we narrated her the whole incident. She burst out into laughter and called us in. Thats were we quickly put on the nighties over our dress. That time archana didi showed us some of her pencil sketches, she said she has joined a drawing class (she is a mother of 2 teenagers). How I wish I too could start to paint again... Then she showed us some of her crocheted doilies. I asked her to share the book for patterns and she readily agreed. After some funny and quick chit-chats we left thanking her.
Came back home, quickly wished him salaam and ran towards the bedroom. :-) We had a hearty laugh after he went away..... God this incident will always be in my memories. I really thank my Rab for throwing in such bits of fun in my life.

Tikkas

2010-10-08T22:31:00.003+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

Today my mom suggested to prepare chicken tikkas. I love them but today in no mood to eat non veg. However best and most loved alternative to non-veg was available at home today - paneer. So for me alongwith chicken tikkas mom prepared paneer tikka too... It tasted so good that one skewer was already finished as soon as mom removed it from the oven. Besides I love those grilled veggies a lot.... However I had to control myself as had to click pics before it all completely gets disappeared. My sis asked to decorate it with round-cut tomatoes, bt kisko sabar hai... It was so tempting dt I was losing patience sooner and sooner...

My Sis's Happy Birthday

2010-10-06T21:04:00.000+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

Back to back we have birthdays in family at this time of the year. Today is my second sis's bday. During our childhood mom used to prepare cakes at home, nowadays my siblings prefer to order a cake rather than a homemade one. Though cakes are more a fancy lot today, still the homemade ones are loved by all.

Baby Guest

2010-10-05T23:46:00.005+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

We had some guests at our place today. The centre of attraction among them was this lill girl around 11-12 months old. Kids today are too smart for their age. I was playing with her and tried to make her laugh (or smile atleast....), but this girl she didn't even gave a single smile. Not ready to give up so easily, I tried to play mischief. She had worn bangles and I tried as if removing them. My mom said she is too small to understand that, but as soon as my mom spoke this words, dt girl shook off her hand as if nt ready to give in to me. Too smart. Ultimately before they left I made her laugh a couple of times.. Joker me.... ;-D

These are some of the few dresses my mom had stitched for her.. Surprising thing is that all these baby dresses has been made out of the remaining pieces of our dresses.

Its a quilt again made out of remaining dress pieces.. My mom made the covering and I stitched it all togather.. The above is one side of the quilt.

This is the second side...

This quilt is made out of my old dupatta.

Besan Ladoo

2010-10-04T19:32:00.006+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

It happens not so often that whatever you wish in life gets fulfilled so sooner. Yesterday I was feeling a lill down coz of cough and cold. And food is among one thing that usually lifts up the spirits during such time. Yesterday mom had prepared burgers in the evening and I was really not into eating them. But... khana pada. Today the smell of roasting besan gave pleasure to my sensory organs so much that I became very impatient to eat them ( I wanted to eat them since a long long time ). It was a group work - my mom shared her recipe, one sis roasted the besan other grinded the sugar and ultimaltey they got tired... I had no patience to wait anymore so I offered to bind them. Please excuse the different sizes, I simply just wanted to devour them.... hmmm yummyyy!!!!

Amla

2010-10-02T19:45:00.004+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

Winter season is back again. Though it doesn't matters much in mumbai, still I love to celebrate winters. Its during this season amlas can be seen in plenty. Amlas are very good for health and I enjoy preparing certain recipes out of it.. They are mostly fun sorts and I enjoy it. Benefits of amla can be found here and here.

I usually prepare fresh amla juice or cut or grate them and dry in sun. These can be stored for months and it really is effective.

Thats the amla juice I got after grating it with ginger and jaggery. Drinking it makes one feel instantly fresh and energetic. My mom loves this very much.

This is the grated amla kept for drying. It hardly takes 2-3 days to dry up if we get good sunlight.

Closer....

Teacher's Pet

2010-10-01T15:31:00.001+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAAN NIR RAHEEM

Ganesha and more ganesha from bhola.. This one too from him. He wanted to gift something to his teacher. All his classmates had made some or the other gift, he wanted his to be unique. He came up with this idea and took almost half an hour to explain it to me ( me tubelight). Actually he is from a village in Uttar Pradesh and I don't understand most of his words, sentances...

We made a box out of a cardboard. Made a lill cut on the top cover and fixed the ganesha on it. He was very happy with the final outcome and all the way to school he covered it with his handkerchief (nazar na lag jaye). His teacher also loved it and appreciated his efforts.... actually that has to be my efforts, isn't it?

My new Scooty

2010-09-29T15:54:00.042+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

Atlast my fear for riding two-wheelers disappeared into thin air. Since my childhood I was always so scared to ride even cycle. I just couldn't balance that thing over only two-wheels. My parents would attach more two wheels (the balancing wheels) on both the cycle and then let me drive, hoping that my fear will drop down. But all would go in vain once I fall down. I gave up riding two-wheelers after that. And when I turned 18, I learned to drive 4-wheelers instead. I thoroughly enjoyed that.

I had given up but my mom didn't. She somhow convinced me to atleast try a scooty and enrolled me for a scooty driving class. Whoa!!!! I felt like main kahan phas gayi. However slowly slowly I began enjoying my training sessions. And I should say ultimately my mehnat paid off. I made my mom happy and proud. She got me this new scooty. And I love riding it now. There was a big argument at deciding the color. I wanted this purple one and my lill sis wanted a light pink one. Ultimately my sis gave in to my demands..... ;-) I am just lovin it riding. Thanx mom.... Luv u.....

To My Sis With Love - Happy Birthday

2010-09-25T21:02:00.000+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

Today was my youngest sis's birthday. She is one of my pet, love to trouble her very much. And specially love her more when she screams after me. Bought a german black forest cake for her. Thought to prepare one at home itself, but no experimenting on her bday, she'll eat me up...

That's the gift she got from her friends. A beautiful hand in prayers... loved it.

My Mamu's B'Day

2010-09-22T21:37:00.001+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

My mamu was the closest person to me during my growing up days... We were more of friends than mama-bhaanji. Although the things are not that same anymore, but we still like to catch up few special moments of life togather. Today is his birthday and he is here at our place. My bro bought this cake for him and there was a small celebration....

Butterfly

2010-09-19T17:42:00.000+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

Butterflies are beautiful. I was always fascinated by them. Because of my fascination for them my parents had placed three artificial butterflies in our drawing room when I was a kid. I love the colors on them. I love their free nature. They are a beauty in itself. Although I should admit, if any of my bros bought that thing near me I would scream and run away.

I saw this butterfly sitting mazay se in my drawing room. I tried clicking its pic but it didn't come out that well. Whereas this butterfly was really very beautiful... We seldom pay attention to these creations which Rab made for us to see and destress. Rab has offered us nature as the biggest destresser but we get so much lost in our daily grind that we forget to see whats around us. I feel we should be always thankful to Rab for this...

My paintings

2010-09-18T22:25:00.001+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

Some memories always brings happiness and colors in our life. For me its my paintings. I loved to paint during my growing up years. Simply simply loved to be with colors. Loved to dirty my hands with them and then go and trouble everyone with those colored hands...

Its been a long time now I didn't paint. Not that I don't like painting anymore but because of time constraints. Today while cleaning my stuffs I laid my hands on this paintings which I had long forgotton. This is only remaining with me now, rest all gifted away.

This one is still incomplete....

Eid Mubarak

2010-09-11T23:46:00.000+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

With the end of the month of Ramzan, coming with the new moon... Eid has arrived. The atmosphere on the eve of Eid is like that home where a daughter is about to get married. Everyone is happy for the celebrations but at the same moment there is some emptiness in heart that the month of ramazan has come to an end. Ramzan in the most blessed month among all. And it coming to an end brings lill sorrow as well the happiness of the approaching Eid. Same like the happiness of marrying away a daughter but at the same time upset that she is going away...

Eid not only is the time to celebrate but also its one of the main aspect is charity, which muslims are expected to extend to the needy. This has to be done before offering Eid namaz ( as in prayers). Hence the name Eid -ul - Fitr.

Eid is a day of joy and thanksgiving. Everyone visits each others place, this strenghthen the familial ties between people. Elders offer eidis to kids either in cash form or in gifts..This was the thing which we used to eagerly wait for as kids and at the end of the day count who received it more...

Today things are same, feelings are same but there is this lonileness. My parents are away this time. However the best gift this year my Rab gave me on Eid today is that my nani kissed my forehead after the Eid namaz. All these years I was expecting this from her but that never came. My nani is a tough person to please, but ultimaltely my patience and love paid off. My parents follow this ritual but in their absence there was no one. What better gift could I get on Eid this year. This Eid will always be remembered.

Ok I think enough of emotional talks.... Now lets talk about some food..... "Sheerkhurma" - speciality of eid. This year I prepared it, was amazing as my siblings loved it.... gave good comments. The food was simple, mutton curry and zeera rice... After eating so much of sweet since morning therez not much place for food. Well this time Eid at our place was a simple affair, just became lill exciting in the evening after friends came over. Friends I feel always add a spark in our life.. May Rab give happiness to everyone..

My New Umbrella

2010-09-08T22:04:00.067+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

I have been using my old umbrella since last 8-10 years. It was so good and sturdy that it was working fine till last year. It was only last year in rains that it broke. I was still using it as it is. I didn't had any heart to change it. Even this year I didn't bought a new one. My bro and sis were almost behind me to buy a new umbrella but I was against it. I usually avoided going out in rains and when I couldn't avoid either I used to get drenched or carry my sis's umbrella. And then my sis screaming and running after me to get back her umbrella.

It so happened, that I and my sis had gone out for shopping.... without the umbrella. The sky was clear and it didn't seem that it would rain. However one cannot trust rains in mumbai. It started raining heavily. We were stranded. Ulitmately got bored standing at one place. Thought to move on and buy one umbrella but there wasn't any shop selling umbrellas nearby. We had to walk a long distance, and there we saw umbrellas for sale. So happy I was that I ran leaving my sis behind. The main reason to get an umbrella was that my sis was alongwith me and was getting drenched because of me. She gets cough and cold very quickly, I was just concerned about her.

When I entered the shop the price tags of the umbrellas made me drop my jaw. I been a marwari (people call me by that name) didn't wanted to spend so much on such a thing which I would hardly use after a few days. However after scurring the whole shop I settled for the most cheapest one in that shop, still I got it for Rs. 350/-. After coming home both my sis and bro started after me for being such a kanjus and not buying a good piece. The umbrella is a sturdy one only that it is not beautiful, my sis said.... Well I can make it beautiful just waving my magic wand.... my jadoo ki chadii...

The umbrella in its original form......

The above pics..... after waving my magic wand, isn't it beautiful now?

Happy Birthday Harshu

2010-09-06T16:47:00.003+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

Today is one of my bestest friend's birthday - Harshu. We share a very special bond. We are friends since 4th standard. Though sharing such a beautiful relationship, since last three years I forgot to wish her. I have to write this here as I feel I should admit it as my mistake.. Its not that I completely forgot but on the day itself it used to just slip out of my mind. Today I called her up and she was in office... The surprise and happiness in her voice was evident that my phone call made up her day. Tears were on both the side. That time I realised how much of value was my call to her... Ours is a heart to heart relationship and I pray to my Rab to keep it like this till the end...

Fear Factor

2010-09-03T21:55:00.002+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

All seasons created by Rab are beautiful. Rains bring in the most lovely effect. I got up very early today morning and saw the beautiful colour of the sky. I clicked some pics and later on transferred it to my laptop. When I saw it over on my laptop, the pics looked scary... somewhat like the jungles in a fairytale. Well that's just my view.

This pic was clicked in the middle of the night. I wonder people might think me mad if they found me clicking pics at night...

Baby Mania

2010-09-03T11:39:00.004+05:30

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

I got into making baby dress mode last month. Actually I wanted to gift some dresses to Neelam didi's sis-in-law's daughter Bhargavi and Neelam didi's friend's daughter Chaturya. But chaturya is around 1 1/2 yrs old and I just couldn't make a dress of her size. Simply because I enjoy making lill baby dress, and somehow subconciously I couldn't make that big a dress.

The above is a sienna dress gone wrong from ravelry. When I started with it, it was fine but around the middle part I got confused with the instructions and it started going wrong. However in no mood to frogg it at this part, I continued. This got made for a newborn baby size, whereas Bhargavi will turn a year old this september. So that means another dress to make....

This is a pretty pinnafore pattern from moms love of crochet. I loved this pattern at first sight and started making it at once. However after completing half the dress I realised this dress too will be for a newborn baby. So I lost interest and didn't make the pineapple frills at the end.

I attached beads and it looked very pretty.....

This is again archana didi's pattern, Once I had posted before too.

This I can very proudly say is my own pattern. I have a flower loom, and love to make flowers from it. I thought to experiment with the flowers and therefore made the upper part of the dress of flowers and lower part frilled one over the other. I had this kind of dress when I was a kid, I thought to replicate it in crochet.

This is a ruffled baby dress again gone lill wrong ( not with the pattern bt with the needle and yarn). While making these dresses my nani was here with us. When she saw all those small dresses she asked me to crochet a bigger one, keeping her request in mind I made this using a baby wool and a bigger sized needle. Now people who crochet can imagine what can happen with such a combi.

But to my surprise, neelam didi loved this one very much... That means my mehnat vasool......