Lego Story - open letter for Advay 18

Dear Advay,
two months summer break is over we had a nice time writing some stories on Lego which I would later post in your lego blog, you would make treasure box with lego and ask me everytime to find the currency hidden there .This is how we spent the vacation with bit of travelling and some family time as your cousins were here but after few days you were not happy as just like me you missed your space and me time and some lone time to read books.

Now your school has started and I miss you son ya I know you are happy to be back in school and  I miss our lego story session and waiting for next holidays when we can have time to write more stories...
that's all son
rest in next letter
with lots of love
mummy

fried lamb chop with just three ingrediets

This recipe is for those days when you are in a jiffy to cook specially when staying out in an apartment while travelling needs just few ingredients and can be eaten as starter or paired with curry for main dish..

Recipe name fried lamb chops
Ingredient
Lamb chop
Ginger garlic paste
Salt as per taste
Garam masala powder
Preparation
In a mixing bowl mix
all the ingredients together
Mix nicely and keep aside
Procedure
heat oil in non stick pan
Shallow fry the chop pieces till
Evenly brown from both sides
Once done remove from flame
And  serve warm with some salad,..

 

be part of the rainbow of butterflies lets fly together ....

The eyes, Shakespeare said, are the windows to your soul. we would like to dither. We all have beautiful eyes but the soul is a different matter all together. The soul is made up of the mind, the will and the emotions.

 On this blog, we would like to look into your soul through your words because we each have a story worth telling. so tell us the story of your soul. We are different but we are all beautiful, just like butterflies, trying to soar high. Even with broken wings and bruised scars we carry on.
 We would love to hear stories of other butterflies too fluttering around so that together we can become Rainbow of Butterflies and inspires other with our life, so what are you waiting for? Write to us so that you can be part of this beautiful world to inspire…

 This is about Rainbow of Butterflies which my sister is starting so guys pick up your pen & send us your story at - funkiehomes@gmail.com

summer memories in lyon - open letter for advay letter 17

Dear Advay ,
Your school holidays have started while in my free time I weave words, paint ,read books ,blog and do so many other things you manage your time by playing with Lego ,reading books ,playing games & sometimes if your mood is good helping me with chores ,one good thing is this now you can reach freezer take out ice cubes .I really feel warm when you ask me every time whether I want cold water or not such small things make me happy .

.You are happy to be home love your own space and is dreamer  just like me .So son lets make awesome memories this summer ,will be writing about the summer went in the next few letters
Love
Mummy

lyon dairy - eatng out Confit De Canard

After living in Lyon for more then 6 months I have some idea about the food culture here .Yesterday we went for outing to Grenoble a small town nearby and from there to nearby hill and lake

stopped at a small coffee shop for lunch

 

 

as my friend from Lyon was also there she told me to try Confit de Canard ,she explained Confit means slow cooked for the side paired the meal with oven baked potatoes .Nicely cooked liked the taste of duck meat paired with salad and potatoes ...

So if travelling in France do try this if you are non vegetarian finished off the meal with cappuccino which they served topped with whipped cream .

Satiated and happy with new gastronomic experience we couldn't have asked for more.

lyon dairy - eating during summer baingan bharta

As told in my morning post I am planning to cook light meal because of summer here in Lyon France .For todays dinner cooked Baingan Bharta in Microwave with less than half tap of oil .This can be also cooked while travelling as the whole cooking process is done in microwave .

Recipe Name Baingan Bharta cooked in Microwave
Ingredient
Brinjal one
Onion one
Tomato two
Garlic clove three
Green chilli one
Potato four
Salt as per taste
Oil to cook half tap
To put before serving
Coriander leaves
Chat masala
amchur powder
Preparation
Boil potatoes in microwave peel mash and keep aside
Make slit in brinjal push garlic and green chilli
Sprinkle few drops of oil and cook in microwave
For seven minutes keep aside
Chop tomatoes sprinkle oil and cook in
Microwave for three minutes
In a mixing bowl mix all the above ingredients with
Chopped onion ,coriander leaves ,salt,chat masala
And amchur powder
Serve warm with paratha or chapathi
Other recipe of Baingan Bharta on Asan Khana
Cooked in oven
Cooked on stovetop
That's all friends will catch up with you all soon take care and happy blogging

perfect for summer kebab wrap with poulet roti.

Its been long break I know had been busy with many things which kept me away from food blogging but now that Advays summer break is on I have more time with me ,its summer here which means lighter meal for us today's post is about light meal which we had today for lunch this one hardly needs any preparation just few ingredients and the meal is ready all the ready to eat ingredients are readily available in supermarket in Lyon France ,vegetables from farmers market .This wrap is good while travelling to or when staying in apartment on vacation

Ingredient
Kebab wrap one
poulet roti /roasted chicken- shredded according to need
Chopped onion tomato cucumber
tzatziki sauce one tbsp.
Chat masala as per taste
Procedure
Heat non stick pan and warm kebab wrap
Add the shredded chicken & let it be warm for few minutes
Remove from flame add chopped onion tomato and cucumber
Top it with the dip and chat masala roll the wrap and serve

open letter to Advay - your first trip /letter 16

Dear Advay ,
Its been so long since I wrote to you ya you can say I got busy with life and running around with so many things anyways this letter is about your first trip away from home .Initially you refused but later on you were ready after much consoling as there was no way you could opt out from this ya I was scared but when I saw the excitement in your eyes I was happy and when we went to drop you at school you just took hold of the bag and told us to go seeing you that strong bought tears to my eyes but no I didn't cry because I could see that you were happy ,We stood in one corner and saw you mingling with your friends ,excited happiness gleaming in your eyes, we stood watching you till the bus was there and you dragged your trolley along and then you went, house seemed empty without you there was no one to make noise it seemed as if time has stood still and then there was wait for You to come back ,,

,
When you came back the first thing which you asked me was I must have enjoyed in your absence I was taken aback it seem you had missed pizza ,French fries and gadgets and made to do lots of chores but you were back with different memories which was more important ad yes that you were back home what more do I need ?
ya missed you son
With lots of love
Mummy

to live my dream - visit Laduree in Paris

I love to dream because I believe that dreams do come true.To visit Paris was on my wish list since long and I never knew that someday I would be staying in France. Now its been more than six months since I am in this country and; I am loving it here initially there were few hiccups but gradually things changed now the weather is perfect too .
Another dream was to visit Laduree

 for the world famous Macaroons

 I have been to the Singapore branch so had bit of idea but to eat at Laduree in Paris was a totally different experience.As my son loves Chocolate we had to take chocolate flavour along with pistachio ,rose and strawberry flavour.One bite and it was bliss not sugary at all instead could just relish the flavour.

Don't forget to savour this experience whenever you go Paris next .
Where Laduree Champ Elysees
75 Av, des Champs-Elysees, Paris.

How you enlightened me about speed dating - open letter for Advay 15

Dear Advay,
Wanted to write this letter long back but couldn't because since past few days life has been very busy you know this .

Today thought of putting down in words what was in my mind since long. This letter is about the day when you enlightened me about speed dating in the bus .Conversation started like this I asked you about your study log submission and you said that it was not done the normal way but by speed dating . On hearing this I was shocked then to bring back my composure you told me that its not that speed dating its a different one I was more shocked because I never imagined that you would know the meaning of dating maybe your teacher told you while explaining you tried to explain me but still I couldn't understand then I asked your classmates mom if she knew and the she told that its a term given to a different kind of presentation .Then you told me that's wnt you were trying to explain me .This was different experience for me so wanted to trap it in my memories so can read  this sweet letter again & again thanks for enlightening me with the term Speed Dating.
Wish you lots of happiness
MUMMY

food inspired by Festivefood pics posted by foodbloggers

Today when I got up I didn't had any idea that its a festival today all thanks to twitter and instagram I was bombarded with awesome food pics alluring me to cook something festive today & that's what I did so todays dinner meal is of Paratha ,Brinjal Potato Curry ,Kheer paired with salad and pickle .

Truly enjoyed the meal and now sharing with you all .
Recipe of brinjal potato curry blogged here

Recipe of kheer blogged here

Recipe of paratha blogged here
Wish all the readers of Asan Khana Happy Festival
Linking this post to
#therecipeoftheweek event hosted by A mummy too.
Take care friends
Wish you all happy week ahead.

Alloo Tikiya Burger for picnic at Lake Annecy

This post is about those days when there was no Mc Donalds in India ya being born in eighties had its own advantages and disadvantages but for me when I look back I feel more advantages because Advay will never know what kind of childhood we had, those colourful days wont come back I know but still I try to relive those bygone days by doing things which remind me of the time gone.
Last weekend we had gone to lake Annecy for day trip ,thought of packing small picnic which we could carry and the first one on my mind was Potato patties Burger.

When we were kids street food was delicacy for us apart from dosa and chaat items which were the normal one for us we were introduced to burger ,noodles and pizza in the later years and that's how I got to know my first lesson in food that apart from Indian Cuisine there are other cuisine too you guys can imagine as there was no internet that time anyways coming back to the post
Sharing with you all recipe for Potato Patties Burger or Alloo Tikiya Burger
Recipe of potato patties /alloo tikiya blogged here
Ingredient in the tikiya can be altered green peas & cottage cheese can be omitted for the burger.
Instead of alloo tikiya chicken shami kebab can be used as filling too.
Recipe blogged here

Ingredient needed
Burger bun four
Potato paties eight
coriander chutney one tbsp
Tomato ketchup as per taste (I prefer with chutney )
Onion sliced one
Tomato sliced one
Chat masala pinch
Procedure
Half the burger bun and slightly brown it on a heated buttered  pan.
To serve
Place the tikiya /paties on the sliced bun
Add the onion ,tomato slices
Top it with chutney of choice
Sprinkle chaat masala
Top it with the other half of the bun
Eat ,.

Linking this post to
#therecipeoftheweek event hosted by A mummy too.
8yrs of blogging celebration at Cooking4allseasons
That's all guys ,wish you all happy week ahead'
Take care and happy blogging.

Weekend cooking - rogan josh

This curry is prepared very often at my home specially on weekends this is one of my favourite curry
Had shared the recipe few years back today reposting this again with new pics ,as today prepared the curry semi dry way without much gravy tastes good if simmered for long on slow flame,
Serve it warm garnished with coriander leaves ,paired it with lachaparatha & rice.

Recipe blogged here
Linking this post to
#therecipeoftheweek event hosted by A mummy too.

that's all friends
Wish you all happy week ahead

sorry for weighing you down with my expectations - open letter 14 for Advay

Dear Advay ,
Last week I attended the class assembly in your school. One day before I had asked you whether you doing something or not and you told me its going to be a surprise .When the assembly started I saw you running around managing the stage ,helping your friends and moving chair and other things you were quiet involved in everything .I was amazed because at home if I ask you to help me just to make you a bit responsible your answer is very rare yes so yes I really felt good that at school you are a responsible boy . You know what I used to wonder why your teachers praise you so much whenever there's a parents teachers meet know after seeing your behaviour in school I know what they were trying to convey me .I feel maybe I am too hard on you maybe later you wont be the same and I should just let you be the kid which you are as your fathers says "you are just a kid." So sorry for putting the weight of my expectation on you this wont happen again ,

Sharing a pic of the books which you reading now & ya now I know from where you learn all such weird expressions ,keep reading son
Lots of love
Mummy

Weekend Cooking Makhmali Lamb Curry

I don't know whether you remember the chicken curry which I had cooked a month back to please my son well this recipe is the same the only difference is that I have cooked the curry with lamb meat.and so the name Makhmali Lamb Curry

Cook this one for family or for guests this one tastes yum with chapathi or rice.
We prefer to eat this kind of meal on weekends as we all slow down those two days no rushing out for class, no pick up drop enough time to sit back and enjoy the day .

That's all friends wish you all happy week ahead
Take care and happy blogging .
Linking this post to
The weekly story week 11 hosted by Colours Décor
#recipeof theweek event hosted by A Mummy Too.

healthy food for fasting - Chaitra Navratri

Navratri is over ,I like festivals as they add glitz to our normal monotonous days, we prepare good food ,dress up ,deck up our home and in other words add colours to our black and white life. If you have been following my blog you must be knowing what I prepared for the fasting on first day, for the Ashthami fast didn't feel like cooking the whole meal
For breakfast had fried faux nut and chai /tea

 so instead just had fried potato topped with beaten curd and green tea for dinner .

For Lunch
I had got coconut flavoured yogurt which is readily available in the supermarkets here ,just whisked it with the help of spoon and topped it with dried cranberries and blueberries.

Last post I had written a small poem on Ramnavami Festival
 I know my writing is pretty bad so sharing it again here

You are out of reach
And Transcendence
And during festivals
Its sheer joy for us .
As we get to celebrate
The divinity around us.
So thanks for such
Beautiful days
When we are
Engulfed in
Sweet madness
To fast, feast
And celebrate
As it adds
 new meaning
To a normal day.

Sharing the pic of Sukha Kala Chana ,Poori and Halwa

Linking this post to

#therecipeoftheweek event hosted by A mummy too
The weekly story week 11 hosted by colours décor.
Recipe of Sukha Kala Chana blogged here
Recipe of Sooji Halwa blogged here
Recipe of phalahar alloo blogged here
That's all friends, take care and happy blogging .

Finally the lego pic for Advay - open letter for Advay 13

Dear Advay ,
Few weeks back I was showing your father the pictures on Instagarm and telling him about the likes ,you were sitting there listening to our conversation suddenly you started crying on asking you told me that I have just put picture of croissant and coffee which  I got from outside taken a pic and posted on Instagram and got so many likes but when you made helicopter with Lego blocks at Mausis house  in India no one praised you .That day I had cooked Chicken biryani for dinner and you were so distraught that you were not letting me take place picture of it.That was lesson for me to not show off myb poem and pictures in front of you an that day I promised you that you will make something with Lego I will take picture of it and post it a.Today morning you asked me again that I had not taken pic of Lego toys ,today being Ram Navami I asked you to make lord Ram with Lego and you made so as promised sharing the pic with the letter.

Sorry Advay we all praised  you that day but you compared it with the likes on Instagram post .
Happy ramnavami
Love
Mummy
p.s.
Poem is written by me and the Lego toy made by Advay.

its never late to learn - open letter for Advay 12

Dear Advay ,
Even before we reached Lyon I had few things on my bucket list which I wanted to do and I am glad that I got the opportunity to do too. Before enrolling for the classes I had few inhibitions language was a problem because I was beginner in French still I went ahead and enrolled because I had the zeal to learn .I felt what if I am the oldest there am I too late to learn something at this phase of my life but when I went for the class and saw ladies aged seventy plus learning art I was amazed here I was feeling embarrassed to learn something new I was more shocked when I met teacher for the French class he must be seventy plus but the zeal with which he teaches is something which I never seen .You must be thinking why I am telling you this that's because whenever you feel like learning any thing new just go for it son as age has nothing to do with it its all in our mind as long as we are enjoying it .

So ya this lesson I learnt from life which I am passing to you because I know one day when you will read this you will now what I am trying to tell you ,have to learn a lot son time is flying wish had few more hours sigh that is another story.I spent one part of my life doing things which others told me to do but now want to do things which I love to do son .
Bise avec love
Mummy

Navratri Celebration & food to drive away the blue

Its that time of the year again when we celebrate Navratri and worship for 9 days Goddess Durga .

Just like every year I am nostalgic and home sick which I take out by cooking the food prepared during the festival did the same this year too for breakfast had Faux nut seeds fried and seasoned with rock salt & and; pepper

.
Dinner was Kuttu Poori with fried potato and curd.
Food is something which always comforts me and helps me in driving the blue away .

For Kuttu/Buckwheat Flour Poor
Ingredient
Kuttu flour two cup
Boiled potato one
Rock salt as per Taste
Oil to cook
Water to knead the dough
Procedure
In a mixing bowl mix all the ingredients together
Knead to mix smooth dough
divide the dough into equal sized discs
Flatten and keep aside,
Heat oil in wok
Put the flattened disc in butter paper
And flatten it further till poori shape is there
Slowly place in the oil
Fry till its brown from both sides.
Drain and serve warm with fried potato and curd.
Festival time we like to indulge too and if you in that kind of mood then try fresh fruits with cream
This we had on a normal day so topped it with muesli for fasting just layer fruits and cream in a bowl and relish it .

That's all friends
Take care and happy blogging
Wish all the readers of Asan Khana Happy Navratri

Linking this post to
#therecipeoftheweek event hosted by A mummy too
The weekly story week 10 hosted by Colours Décor.

cooked to relish meal of spinach pulao and aubergine fritters with raita

Day before Yesterday I spoke about cooking something different on Instagram this post is about that dish which I cooked for the dinner this is not something which I prepare daily something for which I went out of my comfort zone as I didn't feel like preparing chapathi thanks to my back pain so thought of cooking spinach pulao for dinner paired it with aubergine fritter and onion tomato raita ya loved this simple yet exotic meal a bit different from everyday meal .

Recipe Name - Spinach Pulao
Ingredient
Rice basmati two cups (soaked for 30 mins)
Spinach leaves 200gm
Garlic one chopped
Onion chopped one
Tomato one chopped
Salt as pet taste
Oil to cook
Half tsp of turmeric powder
One tsp of garam masala powder
Cashew three chopped
Almond two chopped
raisin seven to eight
Asafoetida a pinch
Cumin seeds one tap
bayleves crushed two
Preparation
Boil water in a pan ,once the water is boiling
 add the soaked rice and cook it till its done
Drain and keep aside.
Procedure
Heat oil in non stick pan
Add asafoetida ,cumin seeds and bay leaves and let it splutter
Add chopped garlic and onion and keep frying till they are brown
Add salt, turmeric powder ,garam masala and tomato
Keep stirring till oil is seen along the sides
Add chopped tomato and spinach leaves & cover and cook
After few minutes add half cup of water and let it simmer
Remove from flame and keep aside .
Once it cools down blend it with the help of blender
Keep aside .
In the same pan add half tsp of oil add chopped cashews
Almond and raisin fry for a minute or two ,
Drain and keep aside.
Add the drained rice and the puréed spinach mix
Fry for two minutes remove from flame and keep aside.
Serve warm garnished with fried nuts and raisins .
Aubergine Fritters
Ingredient
brinjal sliced one
Chickpea flour three tbsp.
Carom seeds one tap
Salt as per taste
Garam masala powder one tip
Rice flour one tbsp.
Procedure
In a mixing bowl add chickpea flour
And all the above ingredient except brinjal
Add one fourth cup of water
make a nice batter add the sliced brinjal
Heat oil in non stick pan
Add the brinjal slices one at a time
Keep turning the sides till its brown from both sides
Drain and sprinkle chat masala that's how I love to eat
 serve warm with the spinach pulao and raita.

`linking this post to
#recipeoftheweek event hosted by A mummy too.
That's all friends ,wish you all happy week ahead
Take care and happy blogging.

weekend cooking - ravioli with curried chicken

I know its already Tuesday and I am late with weekend cooking post which I thought of sharing with you all on Monday blame it to my multitasking ,recent obsession of writing poem if you guys follow me on twitter and instagram you will know what I am talking about ,so today after cooking dinner and sitting with my son who is busy studying I thought of stealing some moments form my always busy life to write this post ya I do miss blogging with the advent of smartphone things have changed I hardly get time to open my laptop to write  blogging  is my comfort space where I can pour out my heart to you all so sorry drifted again pause
todays post is about weekend cooking when theres not much time to cook I prefer pasta for such busy nights and with a soar back things can't be better so this can be cooked in less than 20 mins and the meal is ready to be savoured

Recipe name 4 cheese ravioli in red sauce with curried chicken
Ingredient
ravioli one packet [easily available in supermarket in Lyon )
Three tbsp of Heinz onion tomato and garlic paste
One small onion chopped
One garlic clove chopped
One tomato chopped
Oil to cook olive oil two tap
Salt as per taste
Pinch of pepper
Half tsp garam masala
Cheese crumbled one tbsp
Curried chicken sliced one drumstick (had leftover which I used as topping )
Preparation
Cook ravioli till al-dente
Drain and keep aside .
Procedure
Heat oil in non stick wok
Once hot lower the flame and add chopped onion and garlic
Keep stirring till its brown add chopped tomato
Fry further for five to seven minutes add the paste
Followed by salt, pepper and the garam masala powder
Add half cup of water and let it simmer.
Once the sauce is ready remove from flame and keep aside.
To serve
In the serving dish place the ravioli pour two tbsp of sauce
sprinkle crumbled cheese and shredded curried chicken
Serve warm with a glass of wine .

Linking this post to
The weekly story week 9 hosted by Colours Décor.
#recipeoftheweek hosted by A mummy too.
Will catch up with your posts soon
Take care and happy blogging.

you feel the pain too - open letter for Advay 11

Dear Advay ,

 

This letter is about the week we were back from India .I was feeling all blue and  glum and whenever I was showing marriage pics to my friends here I would see you peeping and seeing what pics I would be showing ,you would be curious and inquisitive hearing me tell the tales of shaadi and finally you would take phone From me and scroll down the pics and show them your cousin pics
 then I realised that you are having the same pain as me just like I am missing everyone back home you are missing your cousins too ,sorry Advay again I failed you maybe because I feel you are too young to miss anyone but no I was wrong .Just like I look forward to  for the India trip you are excited too and glum too after coming back .SO forgive me Advay for being so naïve and not understanding your pain .
Sharing the pic of you and your cousins for everyone
And a poem too which I wrote after coming back from India

Its peaceful serenity here

Yet I feel like sitting on empty throne

Stranded away from others

Missing the fun and galore.

I know will settle down soon

& the memories will stay with me

But till than they will be closing in

And making me believe this is what life is

So when I see shade of blue

Up above stretching till infinity

I know you too will be waiting

For the second sun

To warm your soul just like me .

With lots of love
mummy

on completing 7 yrs of food blogging

On completing 7 yrs of Food Blogging

Sunrays stream through the window
And then I realise
That today is the day
When I took the first stride.
Some 7 yrs back I stole
Few moments to start this space
And when now I look back
I know what all I have gained.
Have shared many unseen emotions
Which others didn't knew
And discovered that I could
Write in verse too.
So the space
Between you and me
Is reduced because of this
Its another facet of me
Which I really cherish .
So this month of mars
Is special for me
And because of this
I celebrate it.
Its asankhana my blog
Which was born today
And this poem is for
The blog birthday.
By
notyet100
9/3/15

To celebrate blogversary cooked one of my fav curry for dinner
Rogan josh with steamed rice and kachumber

 

recipe of Rogan Josh blogged here
Linking this post to the weekly story week 8 hosted by Colours Décor.
And to #recipeoftheweek event hosted by A mummy too.
Take care and happy blogging.

some specks of memories from wedding in India

Last few days have been like whirlwind for me because I had been to India for wedding now that I am back I can feel the emptiness here . So I think for few days I will be in that glum mode sharing with you all few pics of the gaiety & celebration there.

Indian Wedding

 

 

after coming back with some everlasting memories I can just sit back & reminisce about the time gone

 

 And savour these shaadi sweets & miss them all

Took out my sadness  by writing down my feelings

really felt better after this

so that's the reason why I had been away from my blog

LINKING THIS POST TO the weekly story week 8 hosted by Colours Décor.

Will catch up with your post soon

Wish You all happy week ahead

Take care & happy blogging