The Numbers

 

Mutton Curry 

Those last six months when I would be cooking to comfort my soul and of his too. With exam time table out it look's like it's my exam. But I am glad that we can finally start the countdown. Isn't that's what numbers remind you. And since past few years its number which have been creating havoc in our life. So maybe I will be sharing more of cooking related stories here and elsewhere. Also I am excited about the upcoming book which will have poems by my grandfather and father. 

Sweet and Tangy Memories - Papdi Chaat

 he texted me when I was preparing his lunch 

can you please add sweet chutney?
I always do I wrote him back.

he in this conversation is my son who is enjoying his home based learning which started last week. So now that we eat our lunch together at home I am trying to keep food interesting for him. So today when I asked him what he would eat for lunch his reply was chaat. So the papdi chaat was assembled for him and while I was doing the same he texted him. Chaat is therapy food for us and both the chutneys are essential ingredient for it. Now that we are at home a bowl of this takes us to India and brings back those colours which we have left behind. And I am happy that his childhood has the same old fragrance which I am carrying with me, he is a mcdonald kid but just like me craves Indian street food.

 Papdi Chaat 

Tortelloni in Tomato Sauce

 So much has happened since I wrote something here, the world is upside down, we are locked in our home and spending more time on zoom. I am spending less time in kitchen even when my son is at home. 

Art is helping me heal and I am learning to stay quiet with this chaos.

Sharing ten minutes pasta meal which we had yesterday.

Tortelloni in Tomato Saue. Advay feels I am good with pasta and noodles. I don't blame him. He is raised in a different world. This one is good for lunch or brunch and kids are always happy to see something different in the plate.

Tortelloni in Tomato Sauce

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

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

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

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 being Global Citizen - Letter 10 for Advay

Dear Advay,
Few weeks back you got your journal from school.I liked the way you had expressed yourself in  your class assignments but when I saw the GLOBAL CITIZEN passport in your folder I was awestruck because this was something really beautiful I wanted to read it again & again .I wish everyone could understand this simple thing that we all are GLOBAL CITIZEN

.There were some beautiful quotes there in the passport all meaning the same that we don't belong to a single country but to the whole world

.I know what I am trying to share is big for you maybe you will understand when you grow up.
That's all for now
Lots love
Mummy
Linking the post to
The Weekly Story Week 5 hosted by Colours Décor.
Take care and happy blogging.
.

A cup of morning coffee = potion for the day letter 9 for Advay

Dear Advay,
Few days back I had missed my morning cup of coffee as we had missed the alarm so we were late for school with not much time I had to leave home without coffee & when you asked me ,"Mummy what happened if you didn't drink coffee " I didn't had any words to explain that time but now this letter is for the question which you asked me that day by your words you meant its okay if you didn't drink coffee that's not a very big thing but for me it is ..

I put alarm for 5am every morning so that I can get up early to brew the coffee soak in the silence & start the day doing this awakens me in a positive way & I feel good & energetic. So while you & your father are speaking I am ready to face the day & world .Its not just on weekdays I love to do this on weekends too .For me this is happiness ,me time ,my potion for the day  and maybe for you its just a cup of coffee. So this is the answer of the question which you asked that day .One thing more maybe you can relate to the happiness which you get when you get up & start looking for books to read its the same kind of happiness or magic potion for mummy to be charged for the day & ya I write poems too sometime early morning that's another story which I will share with you another day ,..

With lots of coffee love
Mummy

Its oky to dip paratha in curry -letter 8 for Advay

Dear Advay ,
Today when you were back from school you told me that you had not finished your meal on asking you told me that you felt sick while eating paratha with chickpea curry.I was speechless for a sec because yesterday you had the same chickpea curry for dinner .I had the same curry for lunch and it was perfect for me .So why this excuse .I met your classmates mom when I had gone to fetch you when I discussed this with her she told me its the same with her daughter .It seems you and your friends feel conscious to eat Indian food in school because other students get sandwich ,cookies or cake.In Singapore you used to take Indian food and I never heard that you felt sick while eating the same.Here when we go out you always want to to Indian Restaurent to eat and there you truly enjoy the food even at home too you will be licking your fingers and eating .I don.t blame you for what happened today maybe you felt ashamed tearing the paratha to dip in the curry while others happily munched their sandwich or cookie.I just want to tell you that you should never be ashamed about the way we eat or our food because that's our culture that's how we have grown up eating with our hands when it comes to Indian Food specially chapathi.I wont feel satiated unless I break the chapahi and dip it into the curry and eat.Maybe one day you will understand what I am trying to tell you and ya thanks for letting me know that you feel conscious while eating Indian food in school.Its a big fight for you .I do understand that,..
More later
With lots of love
Mummy
29/1/15
P.S.- next post I will be sharing the recipe for the curry chicken which you really liked for now just sharing the pic

dream on however silly dream is - letter for advay 7

Dear Advay ,
Yesterday when we left home for school you question was "mummy will it snow ?" I had seen the weather app before leaving home but I didn't want to upset you so I said "no I haven't seen ." Your next question was "Mummy but you see the app everyday ."Jittering with cold  I told you that I forgot to see.

When we reached school I could see tiny flakes white coloured falling down I was happy for you that finally you will get to see snow in Lyon .You were happy I could see that in your face ,you tried to catch one or two flakes and then slowly I ushered you inside the school gate ,

I want to share with you something in this letter Advay .I had imagined or you can say wanted to watch the snow flakes coming down while I sit somewhere in a cosy place enjoying the moment ,I  shared this dream of mine with your papa too and he just laughed you must be thinking why I am telling you this because I lived my dream the same day you were so  happy and excited.

.After dropping you in school I went with my friends with whom we have blogging session on Wednesday followed by coffee.On the way I could see snow everywhere on the tree, grass and on the roof. We decided to sit near a window

.Few minutes and I was seeing my dream .I could see snow flakes coming down .I thought about you and then got lost in the moment.

  

Ya this was my dream and my moment which I relished and ya I missed you. So I just want to tell you never stop dreaming as dreams do come true however silly they are .That Wednesday both of us

Saw our dream coming true and ya I was happy for you.

 That's all for now

With lots of love

 your dreamy mummy

21/1/15

Linking this letter to The Weekly Story Week 3 hosted by Colours Dékor

Wish you all great day ahead

Keep on dreaming and Blogging..

 

Pizza Party Day = Happy Day - letter 5 for Advay

Dear Advay ,
I was happy today when I got up ,had a nice cup of coffee with fruit cake woke you up and thus the day started you know the reason for my happiness you must be wondering because that time at 6am  I am cranky and according to you always screaming as I have to do multitasking.
Today was Pizza party day in your school which means no lunch box from home so today I didn't had to rake my brain and think what to pack in your Tiffin .Ya  Advay  I know you must be thinking that I am so lazy but yes such kind of brake specially when the food is organised by school makes me happy in different way you are happy too whenever you show me the slip for the Pizza Party for oblivious reason because you love eating pizza.
This letter is just for sharing my little happiness for you that though I like to pack Tiffin for you I love this kind of break every 2 to 3 weeks when there's no need for me to pack food for you.This was a secret in my heart which I am sharing with you today .A pinch of happiness the similar kind you have when you don't have any home work from school.
With lots of love
Your lazy mummy
16/1/15
p.s. the picture above  was taken in year 2013 at Nanjing Road Shanghai China
Linking this post to
The weekly story 2 hosted by colours décor.

how I started digital detoxification - open letter for Advay 4

Dear Advay,
Yesterday I tried something new with you or you can say with myself ,when I sat with you to teach you I kept my phone away with the mute button on, this was necessary I think so that I could give you full attention while teaching so while you were doing your homework I was studying French.
I enjoyed the silence and peace ,there was no beep of whts app, no ring of call on viber ,face time or Skype .I was not checking the twitter feed or pinterest boards and ya in those two hours you never told me that "Mummy while I am studying you are busy messaging or doing things on phone ",those two hrs were just for us irrespective of whatever is happening in the outside world, we enjoyed home and the company .Thanks Advay for making me realise that I won't lose anything if I am away from phone .I enjoyed the solitude.It was like those childhood days when the only mode of entertainment was television ,now I know that rules should be for us too not only for kids .This was one of the resolution to stay away from phone for few hours and I am so glad that I started .So Advay mummy  going to be offline specially when I am with you at home and ya I am loving it.
With lots of love
Mummy
p.s. The above pic was taken in narrow streets of Venice Italy in December 2014
Linking this post to The Weekly Story Week 1 at Colours Dékor

Open Letter for Advay -3

Dear.Advay

Yesterday was special for you and us . Yesterday you went to swimming class alone without me ,your class teacher was there ,your friends were there but I was not there . Since past few yrs I had been taking you for the classes waiting for you till the class is over helping you with clothes and finally getting you home . I couldn't accompany you yesterday as the class was organised by school . I was stressed since past one week how you will manage without me ,will you be able to change into swimwear on your own or not , whether after the class you will get all your things or not what if you forget anything there and so many other worries . But you proved me wrong . When I went to pick you up and saw the smile on your face I was happy  . You told me that you truly enjoyed the class they didn't had board but had noodle so you managed there was just one suggestion from you "mummy for the next class please don't make me wear so many clothes it's difficult to remove " and ya you didn't missed anything you got everything back . So now I know that you can take responsibility of your things when I am not around and you had a day with too much adventure that's why you looking forward for the class .

Happy for you & thanks for proving me wrong 

Love 

Mummy
p.s.- the above picture was clicked in your school when I had gone to drop you.

Open Letter for Advay

Dear Advay ,

Today is the first day of the year 2015,today when you got up you were upset you went out of the room and sat alone ,your face was red and you looked upset we couldn't get it why you were upset then you started crying on asking you said because of us you are upset. Finally I got up and somehow tried to ask you what we had done then you said since morning you both have been getting new year wishes and no one wished me. When I heard this I was shocked you didn't know that both of your grandmother had asked for you when I was speaking to them but I thought maybe you won't talk to them .I thought you won't be affected by this just like previous years but this year you were I know you are sensitive and emotional but what happened today changed my view about you too, you are no longer baby you are grown up 7 yr old child who has started feeling bad about things like this .YOU were happy once you spoke to them and wished them .You continue to amaze me everyday this post is just to record something which amazed me a lot .I know you think a lot ,like to keep yourself busy and are sensitive over things just like me .Thanks for making us realise our mistake that we should stop treating you like a baby .Wish you lots of love ,luck and happiness for the year 2015
love
Mummy

my fav street food of Delhi - Bhalla Papdi Chaat

While packing for India trip last year during deepawali we had this conversation 
 Advay -" I know what you will do there at Nanis house ."
Me - "what do you mean by what I will do there."
Advay -"you will eat pani poori there."
Me awed "where at Nanis house ?"
Advay - "at the chaat shop on the road where you has last time ."
I was like what :) I mean how well he knows me :-)
Ya he is just like me even he loves to gorge chaat like anything so sometimes I prepare chaat for him just  to change his taste 
,one of the most common  chaat variety of Delhi is Bhalla papdi chaat ,very easy to assemble if you have all the ingredients

Recipe name Bhalla Papdi Chaat
Ingredient 
Bhalla / dahi wada soaked in curd five pieces 
Papdi eigth to ten 
Boiled peeled cubed potato one 
Green chutney /dhania chutney one tbsp
Meethi chutney/ imli chutney one tbsp
Salt as per taste
Chaat masala one tsp
Black salt as per taste
Red chili pinch
cumin powder one tsp
Beaten curd four tbsp
Pomegranate seeds one tbsp
Sev handful
How to assemble
In a plate place the base layer papdi,cubed potato and Bhalla
Top it with baten curd followed by the chutneys
Sprinkle all the powdered masalas followed by sev and pomegranate seed
Indulge without wasting a second,..:)

thats Advay devouring Meetha Pani Poori at my favorite chaat shop in Delhi Prince Chaat Shop 

at GK m block market New Delhi.
Sharing some pics of the same place ,

ya guys this time  I managed to eat my favorite chaat Palak Papdi Chaat there and ya I was satiated :-)

thats all for now guys 
wish you all happy week ahead:-)
take care and happy blogging,...

christmas celebration at home 2013

I wanted to write this before the year ends,since past few months life has been very hectic so i was not getting time to update my space today i thought of stealing some moments from my chaotic life and ,...
had written the above two lines in December but thanks to my chaotic life  and the sudden breakdown of the  computer I couldnt complete this post ,so today while jotting down my new year resolution in the journal I thought of completing this post first day of the year itself :-)
sharing some moments of the christmas party

 which I hosted for Advays friend at home
advay helped me with the decoration

 and ya i made him read the christmas story which I had written two years back

 baked some cookies,iced them too ,recipe inspired from here 

 baked christmas cake for the occassion too,recipe inspired from here 

ya guys this one was my dream again

which I lived up this year ,it does feel great when we fulfill our dream

btw this year I did something which was in my bucket list since long more on it will come soon,...:-)
thats all friends wish you all great year ahead
take care and happy blogging.

Advays 6th Birthday Celebration

This month was pretty hectic with so many things on my mind I hardly got any time to blog or to visit my favorite blogs,even though when I am typing this post I am monitoring my sons homework  so you guys can imagine how busy I have been ,last week was Advays birthday unlike last year i couldn't plan a good party for him this year :-( , keeping the design of the cake

 in mind just decorated the wall

 with handmade birthday banner

 and banner  for the banner  followed the same procedure which I had done on the kinder graduation cake 
inspired from here ,the only difference is I stuck the cardstock paper on the rope with help of tape and  with some balloons on the wall the decor was complete .
 and for the entrance kept a picture of Advay 

and decorated a frame with handmade bunting and welcome message .
For the goodie bag  traced out the template of Mickey Mouse on card stock paper

 and made label for the goodie bags.
That's Advay with his friend :-)

That's all guys have been learning lots of new things as MIL is here will be updating the blog soon with new recipes,..:)
Linking this post to
the weekly story week  13 hosted by Colours Dekor.

Take care and happy blogging .

some precious moment from India trip 2013

Its gonna be three years this June since I moved back to Singapore ,life is more laid back now as Advay comes back home at 4pm  so by the time he is back home I am almost free from the daily chores so that I can spend some quality time with him ;-)
Coming back to todays post sharing with you all few precious moments from last months India trip,..;-)
this time Advay got to see the Taj Mahal for the first time ,

ya this one was beautiful experience for all of us

We Celebrated Holi festival too which  is incomplete without colours,

 a glass of Thandai

and a moment like this :-)

and ya how can I forget food,check out this thali

and the one below which has Bedai ,Jalebi and Curry ,street food of agra

the rustic food of India Horha /roasted green chickpea

Indian street food Bhelpuri prepared at home

and had Papdi Chaat this one too prepared at home

this awesome cake baked by Aunty coined yummy cake by kids

Advay too had a rocking time with his cousins,pictures say it all

;-)

my favorite one is this :-)

thats all guys ,will catch up with you all soon
take care and happy blogging.