Homemade COFFEE!

For a chai lover like me, coffee is a once in a while affair. So whenever I'm in mood to trade my chai for coffee (usually in the evenings) I make sure it’s something worth indulging into! 

Few of my favorites are: Peppermint mocha from Starbucks, Coffee from my Nespresso machine and home made hand beaten coffee, the recipe of which I'm sharing on the blog today.

 I’ve been making this coffee for years now. Its like making a cappuccino at home without using any fancy equipment. A lot of my friends who’ve tasted this coffee have vouched for its taste and how creamy it is. I don’t know any coffee lover who hasn’t liked the coffee this recipe generates.

In case you’re wondering if a homemade coffee really needs a recipe to be followed just stay with me and keep reading further. I promise I won’t disappoint. Its just a tad bit of a more effort than boiling milk and mixing it with coffee and sugar. But the result is truly worth every sip. 

Let’s start with ingredients:

• Instant coffee powder (4 tablespoon)
• Sugar (6 tablespoon)
• Water ( to beat the coffee)
• Milk (4 cups)

This recipe will yield four medium cups of coffee. I recommend making minimum of four because it gets easier and quicker to beat the coffee. 

Step1:

In a bowl, mix the coffee powder and sugar and start beating it with a spoon adding small amounts of water. 

Make sure not to add a lot of water instantly otherwise the texture will be slimy and not frothy as we want it to be. 

Step2:

Bring milk to boil in a saucepan. In the meantime layer the bottom of the cup with 1 tablespoon of the beaten mixture and then pour the boiling milk over it. 

Stir it very gently once or twice and in seconds you’ll see the coffee turn into a rich creamy frothy one. 

Step3:

Sprinkle some cocoa powder over it. It not only makes the coffee look dressy but the chocolate totally enhances the flavor too. 

This is my go-to recipe whenever I have guests or friends over and are in mood for a hot beverage. 

You can refrigerate the beaten mix for up-to a week so this is definitely a good make-ahead recipe if you are expecting some company over. 

5 healthy Indian baby snacks!

As a mom I feel like I'm always on a guilt trip for one reason or the other. One day it could be because I've exceeded my little ones screen time and the next day could be the result of an overdose of cookies! But then I've also realised that I don't need to get so overwhelmed and give this feeling of guilt inside me a break. A lot of credit for this positivity goes to social media. There are so many moms just like me sharing their motherhood experiences through their personal blogs and Instagram. Trust me it's a relief to know that you're not the only one sailing in the boat of motherhood. Everyone goes through good and bad days but in the end it's all a learning process. 

In today's blogpost I'm going to share a few healthy Indian snack options that are tried and tested on D. Since RJ and me both are chocolate lovers and can't keep are hands off fried stuff, it's no surprise to me that D already has her taste buds leaning towards cookies and chips! 

There came a point when she started asking for it on a daily basis and I had to stop. I started saying NO to her each time she asked for a cookie or chips but  also hated that feeling of refusing to her that often. 

I'm trying to be a #yesmom ( inspired from a fellow mom blogger)  because using the word NO too often for things that our kids ask or want can have a negative impact on them and make them rebels. So instead I decided to take a different route and look for healthier substitutes that would satisfy her cravings and also be healthy.  

The following foods have worked amazingly well for me plus I can't get over all the benefits they come with.  

While compiling this blogpost I realised how coincidentally all these snacking items are of Indian origin

1) Roasted Chana: 

This power snack packed with proteins and fiber is just as good for our kiddos as it is for us.  So feel free to let them munch on it as much as they want. D loves them and even the mention of the word "chana" cheers her up. They come so handy especially when I have to keep her glued to the car seat or avoid giving her screen time while dining at restaurants. Seriously these are a life saver for me and I always keep them stocked up. You can find them at any local Indian grocery store. 

2)Rajgiri ki chikki: 

Yet another power house of nutrients that's a big hit in our house when it comes to snacking. Rajgira (English name: Amaranth) is not just a good source of calcium, proteins, amino acids but also rich in iron, magnesium and vitamins A,B & C. 

So many benefits in one and tastes way too yummy for your little one to not get hooked. Because of its  sweet taste it serves as a great alternative every time D craves for cookies or something on the sweeter side.  You can buy them at any local Indian grocery store. 

3)Makhana (Fox nuts): 

This particular Indian snack comes handy each time D craves for chips. It has a similar crunchy taste and can be quite addictive just like a regular bag of chips but the good part is how much of a healthier option this is. 

They are a great source of proteins, fiber, magnesium, zinc and iron and are even considered superior to other nuts like almonds and walnuts.

I Sauté them in a pan with some ghee on medium flame for a minute and then finish off with a sprinkle of salt and black pepper. Once it cools down they are ready to eat. Super quick and a yummy snack option pre approved by my toddlerFind it at any Indian local grocery store. 

4)Nagli/ Ragi papad: 

Rich in calcium and protein this grain has many health benefits. When D was younger and only eating food in puréed form, I fed her porridges made out of ragi flour and she really enjoyed eating them until the last bite. 

Now my mother in law gets these tiny papads made out of the grain. Good thing is that deep frying them is optional. You can instead bake it in the microwave for a minute and just like that a crunchy and healthy snack is ready to be served.  This too is a great substitute for chips. 

5)Home made potato chips:  

Though not exactly a healthy option it's at least a better option then a store bought bag of chips. My mom use to make chips at home and fry them for us. I remember how they were my favorite food while growing up.

                                                                                                                                                                   

So I asked my mom to make a batch for me and have it sent from India. They are merely washed and peeled potato slices that are sun dried for few days until they get completely dehydrated. And then you can just deep fry. Two important advantages over store bought chips is the oil that we use for frying and the quality of the potatoes. 

I'm not sure if these are available at the Indian grocery store but as I mentioned above the process of making them is quite simple. 

All of these snacks options have immensely helped me in cutting down my 20 month old toddlers intake of unhealthy stuff. 

Occasionally I do let D indulge in an actual bag of potato chips and real cookies because I truly feel that motherhood also deserves the right to spoiling our kids once in a while! No guilt attached

Surviving Motherhood!

D is just six months away from turning two! I look at her and wonder how did time go by so quick!? The flashes of that day when she was born are still clear in my head. How the first glimpse of her made my heart melt. I won't lie but holding her for the first time also made me a little nervous. Doubting myself at the title of being a "mom" and whether or not I'd be able to keep up.

Today as I reflect back on the past one and a half year of my life, I don't know if I have been the "idol" mom but I can proudly say that I've learnt so much out of it. 

From testing my patience, to being more patient. Learning to love selflessly and turning out to be a stronger person both physically and mentally- it's been a joy ride! 

Enter a tiny little member and you bet how everything starts to revolve around them. It's easier to get caught up and lose yourself in the entire process. Life changed 360 degree for me and as demanding as motherhood got, I found more the need to stay connected to the older version of me. 

On the blog today- I'm sharing a few things that I made sure to do during my journey with D. It helped me sail beautifully through what I call the first two most demanding years with the baby. 

Prioritising myself:  As mommies we are not breaking rules of motherhood by taking time out to do things that make us happy. After a month of having D, I stepped out to get my hair colored. I would plan trips to the mall around D's nap time. Catch up on my favorite TV shows. Basically tried to do as many things that made me feel normal because believe it or not, feeling normal is like luxury postpartum! 

Taking time out for RJ:  Priorities do change once you have a baby. Its easier being parents than being partners! I've realised how D has become part of most of the conversations that RJ and me have. Everything is directly or indirectly related to her. But we do consciously try and take time out for one another. Whether its going out for dinner or watching a movie on Netflix its quality over quantity after you have a baby.

Hanging out with the BFF:  This has truly been a life saver and the biggest stress buster I could ask for. Catching up over brunch, dressing up to make sure we click good pictures together, talking about fashion endlessly or for that matter just speaking my heart out. Having a bestie around post pregnancy was like forgetting all the blues of motherhood and shifting focus from sleepless nights to a glass of wine!

Updating the blog: I started blogging even before I had D and this was something I never wanted to let go off. Writing keeps me connected to my inner self and I made sure that no matter what, I took time out for it. Making D a part of my blog (which earlier I was hestitant about) has helped me a great deal. Since the blog is all about my life here in the US, talking about how I'm raising my baby girl sure deserves a mention. 

Eating well: I had so many people advising me how to avoid "certain foods" and watch what I was eating (especially while breastfeeding) because it would directly go to my baby. But I cant be thankful enough to my mom, and mother in law for letting me eat whatever I craved for, in moderation of course. For a foodie like me, having any kind of limitations on the type of food I was eating would have been super frustrating. D was absolutely fine during the entire breast feeding process with no stomach issues and has developed an equal fondness for food ever since she started eating solids. 

Getting help:  I was lucky enough to have my mom and mother in law beside me during the first year with D. They took turns to come visit me and their experience really came handy. As a new parent we tend to panic at every cry of the baby but having them around was so comforting. From D's everyday maalish (body massage) sessions to making yummy recipes to feed her, these are things that I learnt from them and cannot even imagine sailing through this phase of my life without these two ladies! 

Mommy duties can been quite overwhelming and bittersweet but at the same time I can assure you its been worth every sleepless night. On top of that, practicing all of the above really helped keeping my sanity intact and I wish to continue doing so over the years to come.

Battery low!

I don't know if this is true for all iphone users but I'm always running out of battery life. Especially when its time to head out- and I see a 15% battery remaining (which practically happens  to me 90 percent of the time) I know I'm gonna have to borrow a strangers phone to make that urgent call to RJ or D's nanny about my whereabouts! 

Being a mom, and not being accessible over phone when dear hubby is babysitting all by himself, can create quite some panic on both ends. And you can trust me when I say that because I've been there.

Another very important area where my phone abandons me- is when it's time to click some great pictures for the blog. Just when I'm in the middle of a moment that I could use to capture for my Instagram story, my phone has died on me. 

Having said this, and for all the other important reasons of carrying a (charged) phone, I decided to gift myself a much needed power bank that I could bank upon:) 

This has truly been a life saver, when I'm out and running low on battery. Not just that, but I love how I can continue to use my phone on the go while it chargers itself simultaneously without being tied down to a wall charger. And yes, it has also put an end to the awkward phone borrowing from strangers to make urgent calls. Love love love this gadget!

Whats even better is there are so many pretty and chic versions of this handy gadget to choose from and I couldn't resist sharing it here on the blog. 

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Isn't it cool when carrying a tech accessory can be made to look so much fun and non-geeky!?

With so many options to choose from, I really hope none of us have to ever be in a "low battery life" situation again!

Happy shopping

My Polka Dot wall

Lately, one thing that's keeping me occupied other than D (of course) is Pinterest. I've been spending all the free time at my discretion to browse through the creative world of DIY stuff and believe me it can get addictive.

We have a play area for D and I wanted to do a little something to decorate it since a while now. And so I turned to Pinterest for some nursery decor ideas. After scanning through bunch of gorgeous images, I decided to glam up the walls using some gold polka dot wall decals.

They were super easy, quick and non messy to install and I love how it has changed the look of her entire play area. Another advantage of this DIY weekend activity was how much fun RJ and me had doing this together for our little girl.

We did this during D's afternoon nap time and when she woke up to the gold confetti sprinkles on the wall she couldn't stop gazing. Watching her excitement trying to catch them with her tiny hands was so adorable. 

Having done this, I'm so excited to try a few more DIY projects for the home, and as and when I do, I'll make sure to keep you'll posted!

Valentines Day OOTD

Come February, and it definitely seems like love is in the air. My inbox is overflowing with special valentines day shopping deals, merchandise at the mall is drenched in shades of red on their window displays! Dunkin' Donuts and their heart shaped donuts or for that matter 50 shades darker playing at the movies. Everything seems to be love struck.

Luckily RJ and me have the same take on Valentine's Day or any such special occasion. We don't pressurize ourselves into celebrating it,  however do make time to do a thing or to. Lately with our little one around, even a dinner (just him and me) turns into an occasion for us. And so we decided to do so over the weekend and call it our V-day date! 

The Culture Tree + Desi Babies book reading!

As a mother of a ten month old, I do have qualms about raising her here in America. Whether or not - will she grow up learning to communicate in her mother tongue, having knowledge and respect for Indian culture or feeling at least a tad bit connected to her Indian roots. 

Luckily, I'm not the only mother with worries stated above. After meeting mompreneurs like Anu Sehgal, owner at The Culture Tree and Reena Puri & Mital Thelan from Desi Babies, I feel extremely proud that there are women out there who are making an effort to infuse the richness of our culture amongst these tiny tots. 

When Anu invited me to an event hosted by her and Desi Babies, I was more than happy to attend. It was a book reading for babies and toddlers for the book Meet my Hindu gods followed by a coloring activity into My first Indian colouring book

Reena and Mital- the authors of the book Meet my Hindu gods have taken great efforts to illustrate it in a manner that would appeal to the kids. Adding fun as they get to learn about their hindu gods.

The book has some cutest of drawings and the choice of words makes it a perfect read for children. 

The hosts were so kind to hand me a personally autographed copy of their book for my daughter. I can't wait to start reading this to her and teach her about Indian gods in the form of most innovative stories. 

Throughout the book reading, the kids listened to the narration patiently and displayed equal enthusiasm during the Question and Answer round. When asked about who their favourite gods were, I was amused at how promptly and confidently they spoke about their choices. 

All the mommies kept themselves entertained indulging in mimosas and samosas, as they happily watched their kids get engrossed into being a bit more desi. Sonia Puri who runs Sonia's petite patisserie added a dollop of sweetness to the event by baking some adorable cookies for the kids. Well let's just say kids weren't the only ones eating them😜 They were irresistibly cute and delish!

Being part of an initiative like this, put a broad smile on my face as I walked my way back home after the event. Making a promise to myself that I'll do my best to teach my daughter about our culture and knowing in my heart that I'll always have company and support from these lovely ladies!

MEET THE TEAM
From the left: Sonia Puri, Reena Puri, Anu Seghal and Mital Telhan

           

 

Posing with the authors, and delighted to have an autographed copy of their book. 

My little one enjoying her story time at home, as I narrate stories of Lord Ganesh and other gods.

Book reading in progress

Checkout how cute these cookies look, adorned with logos of Culture Tree and Desi Babies on them.

Sonia Puri,  owner - Sonia's Petite Patisserie

(Belated) Happy 2017!

I know I'm terribly late for "happy new year " wishes.  My apologies for being MIA but I really hope everyone's had a terrific start to twenty seventeen!

With no good reason to justify, why I ignored my blog, I partly blame it on my laziness and partly on being a bit overwhelmed! Yes, overwhelmed from all the hype created around the New Year.

What are your plans for the New Year's Eve? Have you made a list of resolutions yet? Are you hitting the gym already? Feel the energy, be positive etc etc. The pressure of keeping up made me do exactly opposite of all this. Hence, my start to the year was a mellow one. 

Spent the New Year's Eve playing poker with family (losing big time), eating pizza and calling it a night at 12:15 am. This entire month went by doing the following- 

1) Catching up on Bollywood movies that I missed watching on big screen. Aye Dil Hain Mushkil, Rustom, Dear Zindagi and M.S Dhoni. Absolutely loved them all.

2) Wearing the chefs hat and trying my hand at new recipes that included Thai curries and baking thin crust pizzas! 

3) Practicing driving under the supervision of RJ with a mission to be able to drive independently by the month end.

4) Reading The legend of Laxmi Prasad -a book that I wholeheartedly enjoyed and was pleasantly surprised with not just Twinkle Khanna's writing skills but also her choice of genre. 

Having done all this without any pressure to perform makes me feel that I'm ready to get back into the game and put my best foot forward. So if any of you happens to be sailing in the same boat as mine, let's just say it's never too late. Because its not just the first day of a brand new year, but any day, that can be a new start.

Have a lovely weekend! ❤

Eventful November!

November loving!

If there is anything like a favorite month in the year, undoubtedly its November for me. And so I decided to do a post dedicated to this beautiful month of fall hues! The reason I call it my favorite is because it's my birthday month. I know that sounds quite a cliche and yet its true. 

This year, my birthday month decided to get pretty eventful. With Trump's (unexpected) triumph in the US election and the MODI'fied currency situation in India, clearly the change has been bigger than just leaves switching color this season. 

On a personal note, this month has been quite an exciting one!

As one of my bestie preps up to tie the knot later this month, another BFF made me aunt to an adorable baby girl last week. I know both my friends will make for a gorgeous bride and a doting Mother. I couldn't be happier for them. 

In the middle of all the exciting news, new phase in my friends lives and being witness to political news that will go down in history, RJ popped the question about how I wanted to ring in my birthday this year? 

After pondering over the question for sometime, I realised that the idea of "birthday celebration " has definitely changed for me this year. From doing something fancy and over the top, it has boiled down to spending quality time with loved ones. I think its a part of growing up and I'm happy I am starting to feel that way. 

Its been a month of change - for me, my friends and the entire world! With that said - November is, and will always be my favorite month!:)

Have a happy rest of your November!

Pumpkins and Diyas

This year was quite a coincidence. Since Diwali and Halloween were just a day apart, we landed up celebrating both over the same weekend. Between shopping for pumpkins and decorating the home with diyas, it felt like in true sense my Indian girl-American world were merging together. Though we celebrate Diwali each year, Halloween was my first!

A week back RJ forwarded me an email. It was from our building management regarding a Halloween pumpkin carving competition. My first instinct was to ignore, sitting and carving a huge pumpkin in the middle of all the Diwali preps? It didn't sound so convincing... Later, after giving it some thought, I realised that it wasn't just about carving the orange fruit. But an opportunity to be a part of an age old tradition. I decided to give it a shot!

Sharing few pictures of our Jack-o'-lantern! Instead of candles, We used Diwali diyas to light it up. Let me know what y'all think of this spooky (Indian) pumpkin:) 

Our pumpkin - 2nd from the left. Ready to be judged!

I must admit, the excitement while waiting for the results, made me feel like a child again. And guess what? We did win!:) Don't these pumpkins, trying to compete with one another, just look so cute together?

New phone, Newer ME!

This weekend was an exciting one for me. I made a trip to the mall to collect my much hyped and much awaited iPhone 7. I'll be honest with you guys. As a previous iPhone 6 user, I don't see a vast variation in its successor. However,  I have my own reasons to be happy about a new phone!:)

Two years back while vacationing in Miami, I forgot my phone at a restaurant. As soon as I realised and ran back to get it, obviously it was gone! The guilt of losing a brand new phone filled me with deep regret. Therefore I decided to use an old phone that hubby RJ had discarded. Buying a new phone just didn't seem right after my irresponsible behaviour. Using an old phone was my way to compensate for the act.

I'm happy I waited this long before treating myself to a new one. I know I value it far more today. Oh and did I mention how glad I am that I can start clicking awesome pictures again! Something I really missed doing all this while...

Buying a phone wasn't just it. Since my previous phone wasn't backed up, it meant manually adding all the stuff into my new gadget. As I sat to download all the apps one after the other, surprisingly, the process became more refreshing than cumbersome.

This brand new phone of mine was beginning to make me feel like a brand new person.

A state of relief as if I hadn't just discarded an old phone but also a lot of personal baggage along with it.

It felt like an opportunity of clean slate. A Fresh start! Therefore, with all this positivity, here I am! Posting on my blog once again, and using my (new) phone to do so.

Who knew, that in the midst of upgrading to a new version of a phone, I'd simultaneously be upgraded to a newer version of ME:) Totally worth it!

P.S. The picture at the beginning of this post is of the case I ordered. Society6 has some really cool iPhone cases. You can check them out here. I love mine and its on its way!:) #lovewins #truethat

Sometimes....

Sometimes I fall short of words...

Sometimes I pour my heart out like a free bird.

Words and feelings,

They have a strange connection together.

Sometimes the feelings translate into words...

Sometimes they get buried deep down to never be heard! 

Love for mugs!

I love my morning cup of tea. Its not just about tea but also what i'm drinking it out of. More like loving the fancy wrapping as much as loving the gift. There are so many options of mugs available online. If it were for me I would buy them all and drink out of a new cup everyday! Just this morning I ran into a beautiful mug that stole my heart. 

 A 2-carat ring mug! Now that explains why it stole my heart.

Would love to wrap my fingers around this bling while sipping on tea!

Here is the best part.. It comes packed looking like a jewelry box!

Fred & Friends

This website has some really cool everyday products but designed to look so much more cooler and quirkier. If you like to indulge in buying unique products, check the website at your own risk. There are chances you might want to buy everything!!!! :)

HaPpy Shopping!