Pregnancy, Parenting and Beyond

Pregnancy, Parenting and Beyond: The Rave... Instant Pot... My new kitchen toy

Its all over the internet... and among the mom's. A new programmable electric pressure cooker for safe and convenient cooking. With its delayed start function, stainless steel interior for healthy and nutritious cooking and energy efficient, I couldn't resist the urge to jump on the IP bandwagon. So here goes... Ordered it on black friday and still awaiting delivery.... What do I do in the mean time....Learn the basic functioning...  Try to get a hold on recipes... and Share the word among my friends for the same. A great review and awesome video for beginners: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6-6nnbLJmM Getting to know your instant pot ~courtesy IP Youtube Click here if you need a video to follow for the Water Test. If you are a member on Facebook...there are several groups for Instant pot cooking and Instant pot for indian cooking where the members are very helpful with tips, recipes, reviews and more. If you are a member of Amazon Kindle...you dont need a Kindle...

Hello readers For the first time ever, I joined a boot camp. This summer has been brutal, we moved, kids in a new school, new accommodations, heat and humidity, bugs and bees have all driven my anxiety and patience level off the roof. How did I deal with it... Lots of support from my dear online IHM community and few other mom/exercise groups online. But, eating habits were going out of hand, weight increase and clothes not fitting the way they should was taking me down hill. How did I deal with it.... CAMP GLADIATOR... from a fellow mom who also moved into the similar region where I am... I signed up for something that I thought was so so expensive - but I did it anyways and I am Totally Loving it!!! Its for people of all backgrounds,beginners, runners, weight trainers, wanting to get Strong, lean, lose weight, test your limits,...  New Members looking to join... TUESDAY 23rd August is your day....for only $8 for the month, unlimited sessions.... multiple locations....

1- 14 oz pack of Paneer - cut into bite size cubes or smaller 1 cup frozen green peas 1-2 medium red onions - finely chopped 1-2 medium tomatoes - chopped 1-2 hot green chillies 2-4 cloves of garlic 1 in pc of ginger or use 1 tsp of ginger/garlic paste 1tsp lemon juice Take 1-2 tbsp Olive/Vegetable oil. Saute the Onions until brown, Tomatoes, G.chilli, ginger and garlic. Let it cool. Blend it into a paste. Pour back in to pan with 1tsp oil. Let it cook until the paste changes color. (from red of the tomatoes to brownish) Add 2tbsp of the East Indian Masala powder. Add 1/2 cup water and cook. Now add the chopped cubes of paneer. 1cup of g.peas. add water according to consistency of gravy required. Add salt to taste. Simmer until the oil floats. Garnish with a squeeze of lemon and chopped cilantro leaves. Serve over steamed white rice, Naan bread or whole wheat buns. PS>self wrote recipe for a friend. Substitute the Paneer and Peas with Chicken and potatoes. Beef an...

 As a part of son's community service project, we (or I must really say He) decided to host a Book Exchange - along with a few neighbors. As the days passed, J got more and more excited and spread the word. With the generous donations from well-wishers, we were able to host it as a Book Sale - all proceeds of which we are to donate to St Jude Children's Research hospital.    We created a Raffle box - and picked out a winner at the end of the event. The little 9 yr old girl was over  the moon and brimming with joy. Also, as we waited for our patrons to show up, some of the children and J made bookmarks. The children were super excited to learn how to fold the paper and then embellished them with glitter - (sadly no pics as I was enjoying with them). But below are a sample of what we made. Courtesy:  Creative M by Meetu G For step by step instructions click here :  Bookmarks

Thanks to our growing up children and especially J's school that encourages the children to do for and give back to our community. With the Book exchange/sale, it was a project within our community. As for the community as a whole, we decided to deliver meals to senior citizens via the Meals on Wheels program of the Newark Senior Center, DE. We promptly picked up meals at half past 10 and since we were new, we were given an easy route. From carrying out the lunches to our car... J's journey began with following directions to the patron's address.... walking down to the front door, knocking ever so gently or "bang on door" were instructions on some of the front doors.  It was wonderful to say "Here's your lunch!!" and we got plenty of smiles and blessings on the way. Something that we would definitely consider doing again... Coz J was totally elated by the experience.  If interested... Call Stephanie at the Newark Senior Center , DE. ...

1tsp Ghee/clarified butter (available at any Indian Grocery) 1 tsp Oil 1 cup Dal (masoor/red split lentils, tuvar dal/yellow pigeon peas) 1 tbsp finely chopped garlic/ 3-5 garlic cloves (mashed ) 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh coriander leaves/ cilantro 5-7 curry leaves 1-2 finely chopped hot green chilies - optional 1/2 tsp turmeric salt to taste 1 tsp cumin seeds 1/2 tsp mustard seeds 2 pinches of Asafoetida 1tsp - garam masala (optional variation) 1/2 red onion (optional) 1 medium tomato chopped in cubes. Wash the dhal 2-3 times. Let it soak for 20-30 mins. Using a pressure cooker for this preparation since it cooks the dhal until its a good mash. Take Ghee+Oil, add the cumin seeds, mustard seeds, curry leaves, asafoetida. Then add the green chilies and garlic and fry. Add the onion and saute until it softens. Next add the tomatoes and cook until soft. In goes the Dhal, salt, turmeric and garam masala. Let the dal cook for 5 mins. Then pour in 4-6 cups of warm water. ...