tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54469943849745859072024-02-20T22:08:10.115-08:00Random Ponderings of a Working MomMeenakshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382511200905296310noreply@blogger.comBlogger421125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5446994384974585907.post-27718750615255354192022-07-31T18:49:00.000-07:002022-07-31T18:49:18.724-07:00Body Positive!<p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;">"I'm not fat But I feel So Heavy, I feel my arms jiggle, I feel too big Uncomfortable in my own skin, I am not fat, But I feel So Heavy, I wish I weighed Nothing at all." </span></i></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-family: inherit;">I was the fat kid all my life ( think 5'3'' and ~ 180 lbs and right now at Size 4 and 120 lbs I still feel like the fat kid...Only one in seven Americans feels “body positive.”... It takes women half their lives to achieve half the level of body self-esteem as the average teenage male -- a whopping 66% of teenage girls are either body negative or body ambivalent...Ouch! (Source : Yahoo Health). </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-family: inherit;">So for me, as I strive to lose a couple more lbs, I want to do it while I nourish my body, spirit and mind. I want to remain in shape and get strong - so that I can be a positive role model for my son. I want to remain in shape for myself ...so that I can jump up and dance when I want to, climb the high mountains and see the world upside down from a Yoga posture...body strong, body positive!</span></p><p>I will blog my healthy (and not so healthy habits) for the next 6 months as I slowly but surely make progress. For today I want to share my healthy vegetable haul...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwzgi60ENku-l2SbxFSL-9C4kIxNIBP_lCJcPtfRq2vt7fqA2caqv-QpwCQ6HsJrtSHt7y8kAQpt0LkOC37QA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Meenakshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382511200905296310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5446994384974585907.post-72540305461557205292022-05-24T08:12:00.002-07:002022-05-24T08:12:47.211-07:00Self Compassion (Banish the inner critic!)<div class="jei6r52m" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-top: 20px;"><blockquote class="h2mp5456 mk2mc5f4 peup4ujy cxmmr5t8 hcukyx3x sej5wr8e aahdfvyu hv4rvrfc dati1w0a" style="border-left-color: var(--divider); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 4px; margin: 4px 0px 20px; padding-left: 16px; padding-right: 16px;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa ht8s03o8 jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><blockquote>"Self Compassion is simply giving the same kindness to ourselves that we would give to others"</blockquote></span></blockquote></div><div class="cehpxlet bi6gxh9e" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 8px; min-height: 20px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLE3a5UZns-JdgWXp1b-hmiExI8oMQeFgFKSm1hrzfSaMr627iHExCNTJ9RPRaxVN3dB_v4mMtrOlTFnxE6Yb7Fy61Hs1o7Mg0W3KxAJxq5xdCUcD3ZBeXLlYO9hgCrFQiNEnpchn1GI5Ee4wk-pTjbqkRrAbGDTK8avvnUOfhc3xnbEr-m6NFhF1RBA/s866/Screen%20Shot%202022-05-17%20at%2011.31.45%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="866" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLE3a5UZns-JdgWXp1b-hmiExI8oMQeFgFKSm1hrzfSaMr627iHExCNTJ9RPRaxVN3dB_v4mMtrOlTFnxE6Yb7Fy61Hs1o7Mg0W3KxAJxq5xdCUcD3ZBeXLlYO9hgCrFQiNEnpchn1GI5Ee4wk-pTjbqkRrAbGDTK8avvnUOfhc3xnbEr-m6NFhF1RBA/s320/Screen%20Shot%202022-05-17%20at%2011.31.45%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa ht8s03o8 jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><div class="cehpxlet bi6gxh9e" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 8px; min-height: 20px;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa ht8s03o8 jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><br /></span></div>Such a simple concept on paper but so hard to practice. This weekend I had to cancel not one but two of my weekend free classes as my body wouldn't cooperate and I was doing what I do when I am having a massive mental tug of war...I was <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: 600;">talking to myself aloud in the kitchen</span></span> as I was making my son's breakfast (he was sitting at the table with his air pods and I assumed he was busy in whatever robotics match he was watching and couldn't hear me ). Here's how the one-way conversation went :</span></div><div class="cehpxlet bi6gxh9e" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 8px; min-height: 20px;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa ht8s03o8 jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: 600;">Me : </span></span>Darn it - I am weak!</span></div><div class="cehpxlet bi6gxh9e" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 8px; min-height: 20px;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa ht8s03o8 jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: 600;">Me :</span></span> Why didn't I just plough through the pain with Advil and teach?</span></div><div class="cehpxlet bi6gxh9e" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 8px; min-height: 20px;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa ht8s03o8 jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: 600;">Me: </span></span>I am not committed enough to exercising</span></div><div class="cehpxlet bi6gxh9e" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 8px; min-height: 20px;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa ht8s03o8 jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: 600;">Me :</span></span> I am not disciplined</span></div><div class="cehpxlet bi6gxh9e" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 8px; min-height: 20px;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa ht8s03o8 jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: 600;">Me :</span></span> I have already gained 10 lbs at FB...wait for it it will get worse !</span></div><div class="cehpxlet bi6gxh9e" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 8px; min-height: 20px;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa ht8s03o8 jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: 600;">Me : </span></span>My students will all leave me</span></div><div class="cehpxlet bi6gxh9e" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 8px; min-height: 20px;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa ht8s03o8 jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><br />I feel a tap on my back and my son was towering over me and he says : Ma you got this, it's ok its just one class, you are consistent and your students get it !!! And you are awesome! (Context - this is the first time he has said that in a loooooooong time!)</span></div><div class="cehpxlet bi6gxh9e" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 8px; min-height: 20px;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa ht8s03o8 jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;">Made me sit up and think about how much we end up having these one-sided conversations where we beat ourselves up into a corner....why not change that conversation we have with ourselves...<br /></span></div>Meenakshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382511200905296310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5446994384974585907.post-73786819436142575962021-02-28T22:13:00.005-08:002021-03-04T20:41:39.073-08:00Nostalgia is a B**** and the easiest Matar Paneer<div class="content-container avoid-text-copy story" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i> There comes a time in everyone's life when they realise how perfect things were and we didn't value it...</i></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>The early morning commutes...</i></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>The <span style="color: #1a1a1a;">tête-à-tête over coffee/chai at work,</span></i></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Our in-person meetings that had sounded unbearably long...</i></span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>My needing to dress up and wear *some* makeup...</i></span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>The in-person Zumba Classes,</i></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>The hugs from my BFF...</i></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Breathing the fresh air outside sans mask...</i></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>I will never again take life for granted....</i></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>And that's where nostalgia plays its games.</i></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">It's been a year and I am tired of the fear and the mask and the restrictions. Don't get me wrong...I am one of those rule-followers who follows rules to the tee...and yet I am tired and could use something different in my life right now...</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Work will start full deluge tomorrow and grocery shopping and meal prepping were the top of mind right now. I had a margherita lying in the fridge that I was wondering whether to toss or drink and broke 2 months of "dry days" to a prickly pear margherita and the buzz was pleasant...yet the mind slowed down to snail pace...I ended up making the easiest Matar Paneer ever...</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">5 Minute Easy Matar Paneer</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #212529; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqq8YK6F_TFq7pu6WUV6OIS758pUaoaY6wnJOYVUZQZDji63TNque5u9K5cy6c5Vo_i8bbUMK_gZ5P3ulPjtF0DmvANAozlxrPhiPNq8kl714p3Ur1yZeINVqjbGiHxIBzfKbWqutJMcQw/s1128/Screen+Shot+2021-02-28+at+9.20.56+PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="674" data-original-width="1128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqq8YK6F_TFq7pu6WUV6OIS758pUaoaY6wnJOYVUZQZDji63TNque5u9K5cy6c5Vo_i8bbUMK_gZ5P3ulPjtF0DmvANAozlxrPhiPNq8kl714p3Ur1yZeINVqjbGiHxIBzfKbWqutJMcQw/s320/Screen+Shot+2021-02-28+at+9.20.56+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: blue;">What you need?</span></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><ol><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">1/2 bottle Trader Joe's Marinara Sauce</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Olive Oil</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Spices : Turmeric, Kasturi Methi, Punjabi Garam Masala</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"> Fresh Thinly Slices Ginger, Jalapeno</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">1 lb Paneer (cottage cheese, I used the Nanak Brand) - I airfried in parallel with some turmeric and salt in my airfryer about 10 minutes</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">1/2 lb Peas ( Trader Joe's)</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Trader Joes Kefir</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Ketchup, Cinnamon (optional but makes a difference in taste)</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Salt to taste</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Chopped Cilantro to drizzle on later</li></ol><div><span style="color: blue;">How to make it?</span></div><div><ol><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Cube the Paneer, sprinkle with turmeric and salt - spray with Oil and add to Air Fryer and fry at the max temp 400 degrees F for 12 minutes, till golden brown</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Cut the Ginger and Jalapeno into thin slices...</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Turn your instant pot to Saute</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Add olive oil, add turmeric, punjabi garam masala,kasturi methi, ginger and jalapeno and saute for a couple minutes</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Add the Marinara Sauce </li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Add in the air-fried paneer</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Add about 1/2 cup of water</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Turn on the pressure on manual 2 minutes, no release</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Open and now add Salt, Ketchup and Cinnamon to taste</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Add a little bit of Kefir and taste...it will make it creamy and give it a slight tang...</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Add the chopped cilantro</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Enjoy with Parathas/Brown Rice</li></ol></div></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: inherit;"><i>“Nostalgia is a necessary thing, I believe, and a way for all of us to find peace in that which we have accomplished, or even failed to accomplish...</i></span></div><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"></p></div>Meenakshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382511200905296310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5446994384974585907.post-87741959711577202292020-12-16T23:48:00.004-08:002020-12-16T23:52:04.136-08:00Be Kind, Don't Rewind<p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(188, 36, 30); color: #bc241e; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px; text-align: justify;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></i></b></span></p><blockquote><b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">They say everyday is a learning day. So here’s what 2020 has taught me…</span></i></b></blockquote><p></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTSfRB3ZK4N3M1QeIuHhW9T-mVuAsJ_Aq9uTOeys_AqRznqUWhu6s4vf6DZa2v-60g0RbVwvTY-sEXLCozeJXmxCNtiGeGBTzIj7SVC3Bg8oBpxx2nkn3l-D_Fs6H5z7iR0p7nYeVDoKW/s860/Screen+Shot+2020-12-13+at+10.27.05+PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="860" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTSfRB3ZK4N3M1QeIuHhW9T-mVuAsJ_Aq9uTOeys_AqRznqUWhu6s4vf6DZa2v-60g0RbVwvTY-sEXLCozeJXmxCNtiGeGBTzIj7SVC3Bg8oBpxx2nkn3l-D_Fs6H5z7iR0p7nYeVDoKW/s320/Screen+Shot+2020-12-13+at+10.27.05+PM.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">I’ve learned that I’m not the type of a person who wakes up early in the AM to do BollyX or Yoga. I am however the type of person who wakes up early in the morning to drink my ginger chai and mindlessly clear the clutter in my inbox (mostly scammers…) and scroll through social media (I am addicted to cute dog videos on</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">Facebook). Don’t get me wrong I do get my workout in but it’s usually in the evenings dance and yoga and if I get both in together, that’s definitely a win!</span></div></span><p></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: justify;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ve learned that I’m not the type of person who bakes delicious looking sourdough bread. I am, however, the type of person who loves loves a cheesy grilled cheese sandwich made with said sourdough bread…so grateful to the Farmer’s Market for keeping me well-stocked in that department (#go local)</span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: justify;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ve learned that I’m not the type of a person that goes for a socially distanced run on the Bay trails. I am, however the type of a person who likes a leisurely stroll on the trails with the puppy taking pictures of the beautiful blue heron and the graceful leopard sharks. I am so glad my puppy has small legs and doesn’t move very fast or very far…so we get the chance to just take in the views together.</span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: justify;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ve learnt that though every day might feel like “groundhog day” - mundane and monotonous BUT, I enjoy the time with family, the peace and quiet without the hustle of commute, constant parties and school activities. I don’t feel this incessant need to be outside constantly busy. I have broken my life into the bits and pieces that make sense for now : Family, Work, Working Out and building my mental resilience (it’s a marathon not a sprint!)</span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: justify;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let’s face it this year hasn’t exactly turned out how any of us hoped or mapped out on our vision boards in 2019. However my biggest learning in 2020 has been two things “focus on what I can control” and “don’t dwell on the months lost to this pandemic”.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And while we are at it - here is a thing we certainly can control...our diets. So this week I made this amazing vegetable barley soup which nourished us inside out on this cold cold day!</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: inherit;"><b>Vegetable Barley Soup</b></span></p><div class="wprm-recipe-ingredients-container wprm-block-text-normal" data-recipe="3685" data-slot-rendered-dynamic="true" style="box-sizing: border-box; counter-reset: wprm-advanced-list-counter 0;"><h3 class="wprm-recipe-header wprm-recipe-ingredients-header wprm-block-text-bold wprm-align-left wprm-header-decoration-none" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: none; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 1.2em 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKFaQHh4ApBG6ExL_LhhHUIwAfsldX0WgqIOjwJcZEni3ZXLyB-r5j5OuPYP9QfK3eKikPMAVwNUJDzstIPWkm0MsnmwBaYMrW5XjGRSI64bQjSMQ4FwEgGantWjMawgPyDXFtX5yqlh8J/s824/Screen+Shot+2020-12-16+at+11.32.18+PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="824" data-original-width="700" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKFaQHh4ApBG6ExL_LhhHUIwAfsldX0WgqIOjwJcZEni3ZXLyB-r5j5OuPYP9QfK3eKikPMAVwNUJDzstIPWkm0MsnmwBaYMrW5XjGRSI64bQjSMQ4FwEgGantWjMawgPyDXFtX5yqlh8J/s320/Screen+Shot+2020-12-16+at+11.32.18+PM.png" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span><div style="font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span></span></h3><h3 class="wprm-recipe-header wprm-recipe-ingredients-header wprm-block-text-bold wprm-align-left wprm-header-decoration-none" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: none; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 1.2em 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">What you need?</span></h3><div class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-group" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><ul class="wprm-recipe-ingredients" style="box-sizing: border-box; letter-spacing: 0.3px; margin-block: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0px; padding: 0px;"><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 32px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px 0px 5px 32px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount" style="box-sizing: border-box;">3/4</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit" style="box-sizing: border-box;">cup</span> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bobs-Red-Mill-Barley-30-ounce/dp/B01M71MZ5B/ref=sr_1_7?dchild=1&keywords=pearl+barley&qid=1608190476&sr=8-7">pearl barley</a></span></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 32px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px 0px 5px 32px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount" style="box-sizing: border-box;">1</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit" style="box-sizing: border-box;">tsp </span> Olive Oil</span></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 32px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px 0px 5px 32px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount" style="box-sizing: border-box;">1</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit" style="box-sizing: border-box;">medium</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name" style="box-sizing: border-box;">onion diced</span></span></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 32px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px 0px 5px 32px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount" style="box-sizing: border-box;">2-3</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name" style="box-sizing: border-box;">garlic cloves</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes-faded" style="box-sizing: border-box; opacity: 0.7;">finely chopped</span></span></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 32px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px 0px 5px 32px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2 <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name" style="box-sizing: border-box;">carrot</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes-faded" style="box-sizing: border-box; opacity: 0.7;">peeled and diced</span></span></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 32px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px 0px 5px 32px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount" style="box-sizing: border-box;">2</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit" style="box-sizing: border-box;">small</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name" style="box-sizing: border-box;">celery stalks</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes-faded" style="box-sizing: border-box; opacity: 0.7;">diced</span></span></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 32px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px 0px 5px 32px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2 handfuls beet greens (or any other greens! I had beet greens from the Farmer's Market)</span></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 32px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px 0px 5px 32px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">salt and pepper</span></span></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 32px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px 0px 5px 32px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount" style="box-sizing: border-box;">4</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit" style="box-sizing: border-box;">cups</span> chicken Bone Broth</span></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 32px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px 0px 5px 32px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bragg-Liquid-Aminos-16-Pack/dp/B002LMC300/ref=sr_1_3?crid=WVMXZL3O568H&dchild=1&keywords=braggs+amino+acids+liquid&qid=1608190662&sprefix=braggs+a%2Caps%2C263&sr=8-3">Braggs Amino Acid</a> (2-3 tablespoon to taste)</span></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 32px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px 0px 5px 32px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">4 <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit" style="box-sizing: border-box;">cups</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name" style="box-sizing: border-box;">water</span></span></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 32px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px 0px 5px 32px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lemon/Lime Juice</span></span></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 32px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px 0px 5px 32px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cilantro for garnish</span></span></li></ul><span><div style="color: #2b00fe; letter-spacing: 0.3px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span></div><div class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-group" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.3px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: inherit;"><b>How to make it?</b></span></span></div></div><div class="wprm-recipe-instructions-container wprm-block-text-normal" data-recipe-ads-inserted="true" data-recipe="3685" style="box-sizing: border-box; counter-reset: wprm-advanced-list-counter 0; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"><div class="wprm-recipe-instruction-group" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><ul class="wprm-recipe-instructions" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-block: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0px; padding: 0px;"><li class="wprm-recipe-instruction" id="wprm-recipe-3685-step-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 32px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px 0px 5px 32px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="wprm-recipe-instruction-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 5px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Heat oil in Instant Pot on saute mode. Cook garlic and onion until translucent.</span></div></li><li class="wprm-recipe-instruction" id="wprm-recipe-3685-step-0-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 32px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px 0px 5px 32px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="wprm-recipe-instruction-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 5px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Add carrot, greens, celery, and barley. Give it a quick mix.</span></div></li><li class="wprm-recipe-instruction" id="wprm-recipe-3685-step-0-2" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 32px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px 0px 5px 32px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="wprm-recipe-instruction-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 5px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Season with salt, and pepper (and amino acid)</span></div></li><li class="wprm-recipe-instruction" id="wprm-recipe-3685-step-0-3" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 32px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px 0px 5px 32px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="wprm-recipe-instruction-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 5px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Finally, add water, broth</span></div></li><li class="wprm-recipe-instruction" id="wprm-recipe-3685-step-0-4" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 32px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px 0px 5px 32px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="wprm-recipe-instruction-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 5px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Put the lid and cook the soup on manual high pressure for 18 min. </span></div></li><li class="wprm-recipe-instruction" id="wprm-recipe-3685-step-0-5" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 32px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px 0px 5px 32px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="wprm-recipe-instruction-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 5px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Add Lemon juice</span></div></li></ul></div></div><h3 class="wprm-recipe-header wprm-recipe-nutrition-header wprm-block-text-bold wprm-align-left wprm-header-decoration-none" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: none; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 1.2em 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: justify;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Remember, while you are having this delicious soup -we can do this. We ARE doing this everyday day by day…building community and compassion. It needn’t always be pretty. </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div></h3>Meenakshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382511200905296310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5446994384974585907.post-28645018113277866582020-07-18T22:39:00.004-07:002020-07-19T14:24:36.050-07:00Food Memories & a recipe!<span style="background-color: white;"><blockquote style="font-style: italic;"><font color="#2b00fe" face="inherit"><b>“What keeps me motivated is not the food itself but all the bonds and memories the food represents.”</b></font></blockquote><div><font face="inherit">I went to Trader Joe's yesterday...nowadays grocery shopping is the only time I get in the car and drive out somewhere, so my heart was already skipping a beat...there was no line at my local TJ's (sheer magic!) and the smiling person at the front door sprayed hand sanitizer on my hands while giving me a clean cart...her eyes literally beaming over her mask (this social distancing is making me fanciful much?)...anyhow after giving her a broad grin which I am sure she missed (hello! mask)...I went into one of my favorite grocery stores. My shopping list was a boring one...till I got to the end of the list and took a detour aka the last three items 😉</font></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="background-color: white;"><div><font face="inherit">Milk ✅</font></div></span></li><li><div><font face="inherit">Celery ✅</font></div></li><li><div><font face="inherit">Carrots ✅</font></div></li><li><div><font face="inherit">Grapefruit ✅</font></div></li><li><div><font face="inherit"> Kefir ✅</font></div></li><li><div><font face="inherit">Bananas ✅</font></div></li><li><div><font face="inherit">Basil Plant (Say What?) ✅</font></div></li><li><div><font face="inherit">Chocolate Croissants ✅</font></div></li><li><div><font face="inherit">Triple Ginger Cookies ✅</font></div></li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbY_dnLcciD7eidphopBE-Oe0wSJjc3CeHX6D0viO_k1BpbCKX8JOz5mztRc-yTRitkKd8RcDSAQn7YOPwP3WDin6P_lHscE3R_WNNNqbQsJNjZ-TSbSHP_ODEdiZ6p4KJ7x0tTXSXPNs/s1500/s-l1600.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><font color="#000000" face="inherit"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbY_dnLcciD7eidphopBE-Oe0wSJjc3CeHX6D0viO_k1BpbCKX8JOz5mztRc-yTRitkKd8RcDSAQn7YOPwP3WDin6P_lHscE3R_WNNNqbQsJNjZ-TSbSHP_ODEdiZ6p4KJ7x0tTXSXPNs/w400-h400/s-l1600.jpg" title="Trader Joe's Triple Ginger Cookies" width="400" /></font></a></div><div><font face="inherit"><br /></font></div><div><font face="inherit">These Triple Ginger Cookies are amazing....I discovered them almost 20 years back and hooked my father on to it...I carried a couple tubs of these cookies for him every time I went back to India...we would have chai and 2 (ok ok 4 !!!) cookies and just chat. I stopped buying these cookies 7 years back after I lost him. I have no idea why but this time at the store...I picked up these ginger cookies and yesterday I had a few of these cookies with a strong cup of ginger chai (you can never have enough ginger !!!) and I remembered my Bapa...good memories, food memories...they made me smile!</font></div><div><font face="inherit"><br /></font></div><div><font face="inherit">My husband is Marathi...so his favorite dish is a <a href="https://www.tarladalal.com/recipes-for-sheera-254">Sheera</a>, having grown up in the south the closest I have come to enjoy Sheera is via Rava Kesari...I lived by the Siddhi Vinayak Temple and every Friday was a Rava Kesari prasadam day - guess who was first in line for the prasadam...yup! you guessed right. So today, I decided to go all out and make Rava Kesari (I have never made Rava Kesari !!!)</font></div><div><font face="inherit"><br /></font></div><div><font color="#2b00fe" face="inherit"><b>RAVA KESARI</b></font></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrDhumjVN1ho3dzZONuO9zr3ywW9H3ETPPvayaraVGBEmIHTzEunfOYso8npUlqDMZ4fKSLkMW7FL9D7f4nB5j05ZcrWfBYednClarlmGBN1dWoG67UCrdhgsWMeeAUQXqDyLgTwYOVm8l/s770/Rava+Kesari.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><font face="inherit"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="770" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrDhumjVN1ho3dzZONuO9zr3ywW9H3ETPPvayaraVGBEmIHTzEunfOYso8npUlqDMZ4fKSLkMW7FL9D7f4nB5j05ZcrWfBYednClarlmGBN1dWoG67UCrdhgsWMeeAUQXqDyLgTwYOVm8l/w400-h286/Rava+Kesari.png" title="Rava Kesari" width="400" /></font></a></div><font face="inherit"><br /></font></div><div><b><font face="inherit"><br /></font></b></div><div><font face="inherit"><b><font color="#2b00fe">Ingredients</font></b><br /></font><ul style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><font face="inherit">1/2th Cup <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Truvia-Brown-Natural-Stevia-Sweetener/dp/B0771PLNQR/ref=sr_1_9?keywords=truvia&qid=1552263494&s=grocery&sr=1-9&th=1" target="_blank">Truvia Blend</a> or 3/4th cup sugar</font></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><font face="inherit">1 Cup of Rava or <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Organic-Cream-Wheat-Farina-LB/dp/B07N7SX75F/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=rava&qid=1595135868&sr=8-3" target="_blank">Sooji</a></font></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><font face="inherit">Ghee - 2-3 tablespoons </font></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><font face="inherit">Edible Color <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Americolor-Powder-Food-Color-Orange/dp/B006ZCPFDO" target="_blank">Orange</a></font></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><font face="inherit">2 Cups of Water ( boil in an electric kettle and keep handy!)</font></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><font face="inherit">Few Cashews and Raisins (just remembered we called them kismis in India 😍)</font></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><font face="inherit">Crushed Cardamom Powder (2-4 pods, discard the skin after crushing)</font></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><font face="inherit">Pinch of Bhimsen Kapur (edible camphor) - reminds me of the temple! I buy mine in India from an Ayurvedic store...please skip if you don't have it !!! I see it on Amazon but unsure of whether it's food grade.</font></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><font face="inherit">LOTS OF LOVE</font></li></ul><div><b><font color="#2b00fe" face="inherit">How to make?</font></b></div><div><ol><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><font face="inherit">Turn the Instant Pot to Saute</font></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><font face="inherit">Add the ghee </font></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><font face="inherit">Saute the Cashews and Raisins first, add the cardamom powder and the kapur</font></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><font face="inherit">Add the Rava, Sugar/Truvia and the edible color and fry really well, till the smell of the Rava is toasty (4-5 minutes)</font></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><font face="inherit">Add the boiling water & mix thoroughly</font></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><font face="inherit">Turn the IP to High Pressure 2 minutes, Quick Release</font></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><font face="inherit">When you open it check the consistency, if needed add an additional spoon of ghee ( I feel like I will skip this step next time but didn't this time and it definitely made my Rava Kesari exactly like the temple prasadam)</font></li></ol><font face="inherit">For a first time, not to brag - this Rava Kesari was on point. </font></div><div><font face="inherit"><br /></font></div><div><font face="inherit">Enjoy with your family. Remember to create amazing food memories with your loved ones!</font></div></div></div></span>Meenakshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382511200905296310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5446994384974585907.post-90180332727452404292020-05-26T22:32:00.001-07:002020-05-26T22:32:27.813-07:00Healthy Bowls...story of a bean and a rice!<font face="verdana" size="2">I am seriously getting "cabin fever"... there are the days when the BollyX dancing is reserved for the evening where by late morning I am ready to tear my hair out. Today was one such day...when I realized we were low on some essential staples Coffee, Beans and Daals - it was a much needed lifeline.<br />
<br />I decided to do a grocery run to Whole Foods...and I am so glad I did...I have never ever been so happy grocery shopping as I was today, there was barely anyone at the stores - I think everyone was resting after the long weekend revelry - I got the Keurig coffee pods, fresh corn (they had an amazing deal on it!), some chicken kabobs (yup! another amazing Prime Deal) and as I was walking towards the bulk section - I noticed a 25% off Bulk Items (already in containers)...<b>unheard of at Whole Foods</b>. I ended up buying Garbanzo Beans (Cholle), Black Eyed Peas (Lobia) , Brown Basmati Rice, Red Lentil (Masoor), Raw Sunflower Seeds and Muesli (all organic and honestly cheaper than what I would have paid for non-organic at my local indian store). Thus was born my meal plan for today and we have enough Channa Masala to last us one more meal tomorrow (For the win!)<br />
<br /><b><font color="#3367d6">Punjabi Cholle Masala (served with brown rice pulao)</font></b></font><div><font face="verdana" size="2"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgia9HyCZ0aDdjRNejf7LU8Y3PndMj2JBlSWgJqdCuz9LV703ebBPqYZITWB4zcym1BRc_okCYZI2MHju6hC9fx0U86yBVOGFvQXSPCXfT3qWxM2gWhPjj-oRfFuOhAwtEiTeZwT9g13sIE/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2148" data-original-width="2272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgia9HyCZ0aDdjRNejf7LU8Y3PndMj2JBlSWgJqdCuz9LV703ebBPqYZITWB4zcym1BRc_okCYZI2MHju6hC9fx0U86yBVOGFvQXSPCXfT3qWxM2gWhPjj-oRfFuOhAwtEiTeZwT9g13sIE/s320/IMG_4964.jpg" width="320" /> </a></font><div><br /></div><div><font face="verdana" size="2">
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: merriweather, georgia, serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b><font face="verdana" size="2">What's in it?</font></b></span></span></div>
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<li style="color: #666666; font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><font face="verdana" size="2"><font color="#666666">8 oz of my </font><a href="https://randomponderingsofamom.blogspot.com/2018/01/he-saysshe-says.html"><font color="#3367d6">Bhuna Masala </font></a><font color="#666666">(what you haven't made this - it's a life-saver!)</font></font></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><font face="verdana" size="2"><font color="#666666">2 tablespoons </font><a href="https://www.amazon.in/Roopak-Punjabi-Chholey-Masala-100/dp/B00HUJV0G2"><font color="#3367d6">Roopak Punjabi Cholle Masala</font></a><font color="#666666"> (my sis-in-law keeps me supplied with this - Thanks Anu !!!) - key is use your favorite cholle masala</font></font></li><li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><font color="#181818" face="verdana" size="2">12 Oz Dried Cholle (soaked overnight)</font></li><li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><font color="#181818" face="verdana" size="2">12 Oz of Water</font></li><li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><font color="#181818" face="verdana" size="2">Kasturi Methi, 2 Black tea bags</font></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #181818;"><font face="verdana" size="2">Cinnamon Powder+ Ketchup (my mother adds this in all her gravy subzis and I just blindly follow ;-) ) </font></span></li><li style="color: #666666; font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #181818;"><font face="verdana" size="2">Salt to taste, Grated Ginger, Turmeric Powder</font></span></li>
</ul><div><font color="#181818" face="verdana" size="2">You can make it in one step where you dump everything in and just have your Cholle cook for 30 minutes, I break it into a two part process, only because I have done the dump and cook method and feel like the 2 part process somehow makes the Cholle taste spectacular !!!</font></div><div><font color="#181818" face="verdana" size="2"><br /></font></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: merriweather, georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b><font face="verdana" size="2">How I made it?</font></b></span></span></div>
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<ul style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="color: #666666; font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: merriweather, georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><font face="verdana" size="2">Turn on Saute Mode on your instant pot</font></span></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: merriweather, georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><font face="verdana" size="2">Dump in the soaked Cholle+12 Oz water+ Turmeric Powder+ Grated Ginger</font></span></span></li><li style="color: #666666; font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: merriweather, georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><font face="verdana" size="2">Cook on Beans adjusted to 25 minutes (which is Manual High 25 I think), QR</font></span></span></li><li style="color: #666666; font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: merriweather, georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><font face="verdana" size="2">Now add in the Bhuna Masala, the Cholle Masala, Kasturi Methi, Salt to Taste and the 2 black unflavored tea bags to the IP</font></span></span></li><li style="color: #666666; font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: merriweather, georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><font face="verdana" size="2">Cook on Manual High for 4 mins, NR</font></span></span></li>
<li style="font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><font color="#181818" face="verdana" size="2">Open and stir in the cinnamon powder and ketchup, taste & savor</font></li><li style="font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><font color="#181818" face="verdana" size="2">This is the time to garnish with Cilantro and Lemon, I had no Cilantro so I squeezed lemon in my bowl.</font></li>
</ul><div><b style="color: blue; font-size: 14px;"><font face="verdana" size="2"><br /></font></b></div><div><b style="color: blue; font-size: 14px;"><font face="verdana" size="2">Servings</font></b></div>
<div style="color: #666666; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #666666; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: verdana; font-size: small;">This is about 8 servings of Cholle with 140 calories, 20 grams carbs, 10 grams of fiber and 8 grams of protein</span></div><div style="color: #666666; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #666666; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: verdana; font-size: small;">The brown rice pulao was about 6 servings with 120 calories, 20 grams carbs, 4 grams fiber and 4 grams protein (this is pretty basic but I am happy to share the recipe if there is interest </span></div><div style="color: #666666; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #666666; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: verdana; font-size: small;">My son was begging me for pizza for dinner but he tasted a spoon of the rice and the channa and all his complaining went silent and I felt really happy about putting a healthy meal on the table...over and out!</span></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div>Meenakshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382511200905296310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5446994384974585907.post-42609796327460009942020-05-26T00:11:00.000-07:002020-05-26T00:11:44.581-07:00Going with the flow & the story of a Badam Burfi !<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: blue;"><b>"Because I said so, s</b></span></i><i><span style="color: blue;"><b>o it must be..."</b></span></i></div>
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Life has an interesting way of teaching us lessons. Human beings don't like change, especially when it is imposed on them without rhyme or reason - take for example this more than two months quarantine due to the Coronavirus. The more we feel like things are not in our control...the more we resist it and create unnecessary stress for ourselves. Wouldn't it just be easier to go with the flow...</div>
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Going with the flow leads to us making our mental health a priority. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and here are a few things that have worked for me :<br />
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<ol>
<li>Pause...Breathe...Check in with yourself</li>
<li>Take Breaks (sometimes take breaks from the overdose of covid 19 information)</li>
<li>Make time to sleep and exercise (I teach a free BollyX Class on Zoom, I have lost 10 lbs in 3 months and more importantly find a lot of joy in dancing and the community we have built!)</li>
<li>Reach Out and Stay Connected (whether with my friends on zoom, a phone call or even a text, we have kept in touch...</li>
<li>Seek Help - if things get too overwhelming...understand you are not alone and reach out for support.</li>
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So while I was introspecting on "beating my Monday Blues", I also was craving a sweet something BUT I didn't really want to spend too much time in the kitchen...thus was born this easy peasy 10 minutes Badam Burfi recipe.</div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><b>Badam Burfi</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg60KA0jWHxRxplY_lPT8YNmdYkEmoeDQJ8ulALrBYxKia7SpZz-a0t8oCFlpZZTPKb85MozVDhdy1Oe3BXw7a5dUdieS6lCbqWs6zKkXvQvNsctVpdPXU0GsZKJJilVEckB_nYnPQuTK8f/s1600/Screen+Shot+2020-05-25+at+11.43.39+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="588" data-original-width="792" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg60KA0jWHxRxplY_lPT8YNmdYkEmoeDQJ8ulALrBYxKia7SpZz-a0t8oCFlpZZTPKb85MozVDhdy1Oe3BXw7a5dUdieS6lCbqWs6zKkXvQvNsctVpdPXU0GsZKJJilVEckB_nYnPQuTK8f/s320/Screen+Shot+2020-05-25+at+11.43.39+PM.png" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Ingredients</b><br />
<ul style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 Cup of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Truvia-Brown-Natural-Stevia-Sweetener/dp/B0771PLNQR/ref=sr_1_9?keywords=truvia&qid=1552263494&s=grocery&sr=1-9&th=1" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Truvia Blend</span></a></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2 Cups of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06Y6HB4L4/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Almond Flour</span></a></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1/3 Cup of Water</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2 tablespoons Ghee </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Crushed Cardamom Powder (6-7 pods, discard the skin after crushing)</span></li>
</ul>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">How to make?</span></b></div>
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<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Turn the Instant Pot to Saute</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Add the ghee + Truvia Blend+Crushed Cardamom+Water</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mix thoroughly</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Turn the IP to High Pressure 4 minutes, Quick Release</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Add the Almond Flour to the syrupy mixture in the IP</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Now mix it to the consistency of atta/flour and roll into a ball</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Lay out a silicon sheet, cover it with a parchment paper, lay the flour ball </li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Now put another parchment paper on top and roll out the dough</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Cut into diamond shape</li>
</ol>
Enjoy with your family. Remember to take care of both your mind and body!</div>
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Meenakshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382511200905296310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5446994384974585907.post-30868021937833257892020-03-31T22:50:00.000-07:002020-05-01T11:33:20.833-07:00Healing Cabbage Soup!<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><i><b>Sometimes you have to lose something to gain something better. A door has to shut before a new door can open. </b></i></span></span></blockquote>
I will be lying if I tell you that this "new normal" is working out 100%...but what I will tell you is my perspective is slowly shifting towards compassion, catharsis and community thinking from one of panic and a sense of frustration and hopelessness ( remember I live in a county which is severely affected by the Corona Virus!)<br />
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I am a lot more focused on health - Can you believe it I finally stopped worrying about learning choreos and actually took the plunge last week and took my first <span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://bollyx.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">BollyX</span></a> </span>class virtually last week and the feeling of community in that virtual space was awesome - I was helping people connect with each other and with their fitness goals. I took a plank challenge with my son and I showed him who was the #Queen 😆...I have taken countless walks with my puppy, baked brownies, bonded with my family...my mother in law is here and it's been wonderful pulling her on this healthy journey with me --- in fact she has lost 4 lbs in 2 weeks and is dancing BollyX now.<br />
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This week and for the past couple others I have been making my " Healing Cabbage Soup" ....why healing because Cabbage is such a sidelined vegetable which is so good for our bodies. It is in the same family as Kale and Cauliflower but a way milder one when you cook with it...and at Trader Joe's for some reason had cabbage heads for $1/head (and guess what I picked up 3...no one else seemed to want them...)<br />
<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Healing Cabbage Soup</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqLkdZlwy2_8vVU1Z30rkLThlsj9rn86KAuxDx7CLRNzQWnqgM6VeHwLGupjS-O0vpL2edkqy-0cKTWl07xoBaqdyS5cu4kQfkc0KZqw-J8gZCuZnt2kX7tiWwNdZFR3yBVA4UrdUGC27O/s1600/creamy-cabbage-soup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="900" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqLkdZlwy2_8vVU1Z30rkLThlsj9rn86KAuxDx7CLRNzQWnqgM6VeHwLGupjS-O0vpL2edkqy-0cKTWl07xoBaqdyS5cu4kQfkc0KZqw-J8gZCuZnt2kX7tiWwNdZFR3yBVA4UrdUGC27O/s400/creamy-cabbage-soup.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><b>What you need?</b></span><br />
<ul>
<li>1 tsp turmeric</li>
<li>1 tsp Avocado Oil ( you can use whatever oil you have on hand or even ghee)</li>
<li>2 tablespoons or more Braggs Liquid Amino</li>
<li>2 teaspoon Apple Cider Vinegar (no idea why I added it but it sure made the soup taste awesome and hello! its good for us 😆)</li>
<li>2 Cartons Vegetable Broth or even water - I like the broth just because I have quite a few in my pantry that need to get used.</li>
<li>1 cup soaked Dhuli Moong Daal (the kind without the skin) - I soaked it in boiling hot water from the kettle for 1/2 hour </li>
<li>Chopped Vegetables - 1 head of Cabbage finely chopped, 1 bunch of organic celery from my farmer's market (yup! they are open, yup! people are too scared to go even though there is social distancing and yes they will probably go bankrupt if this continues and lose their livelihood...), 4 Organic Carrots, 1 bunch Organic Mint, 1 Chopped Red Onion, Minced Garlic</li>
<li>Salt and Black Pepper to taste</li>
</ul>
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<b><span style="color: blue;">How to make?</span></b></div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>Turn the IP to Saute and add the oil/fat</li>
<li>Add the turmeric powder and black pepper when the oil is sufficiently hot</li>
<li>Now add the minced garlic, celery and onion - saute till lightly browned</li>
<li>Add the rest of the vegetables and herbs, Saute for 2-3 minutes</li>
<li>Add the Broth and the liquid aminos and ACV</li>
<li>Now add the soaked moong dal</li>
<li>Set on High Pressure for 8 minutes, No Release...yes! I know that seems like a lot but trust me on this one!</li>
<li>When it's all done use an immersion blender and puree the soup</li>
<li>Add Salt and Pepper to taste</li>
</ol>
<div>
I garnished it with some fresh garlic bread and herbs from the Farmer's Market. It was such a soul-satisfying meal.</div>
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How are you spending your days? What are you doing to stay fit? I feel like how we shape our activities over the next month will shape a lot of how we build our mental and physical resilience to fight against depression, loneliness, burn-out, weight creep etc...we are in this together...hang in there and we will fight this virus together!</div>
Meenakshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382511200905296310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5446994384974585907.post-78316042371965246632020-03-17T11:37:00.000-07:002020-03-18T10:54:35.822-07:00Daily Routine & The 6 C Immunity Building Khichidi!<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">"We are what we repeatedly do and Eat. Health and Habits are not an afterthought but a result of our actions"</span></em></span></blockquote>
I started off over a decade ago a tired, overweight woman in her mid-thirties who did have one thing going for her - she was incredibly flexible...she did regular yoga but also was overweight and lacked stamina and was constantly tired and angry. Every time I went in to do yoga with my favorite yoga teacher Keith...I would see this gaggle of chirpy women walk into a Zumba class afterwards and always wondered why not me...then 2 years into watching these women have fun, I decided to stay back for the Zumba Class and my life has changed since then...I went from a Size 14 to a Size 4. Don't get me wrong, I still have my Yoga practice ongoing but have added in dance, mindfulness and healthy eating to the mix and it has made all the difference in my life.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKP7aBh2fHPPhVQ09olruDUfU161TvUDh3RvShaNJy0p5-gbQWHByEDaz8bP0s6zNexUVdAXFN7bgSCJcfwAlwMorqFZlzuvB96MA-xVLEM3f70SVzSL4XFJIdep9eNz_ivmlMEVmEPaXN/s1600/89702679_10156531651856991_4474388304954916864_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKP7aBh2fHPPhVQ09olruDUfU161TvUDh3RvShaNJy0p5-gbQWHByEDaz8bP0s6zNexUVdAXFN7bgSCJcfwAlwMorqFZlzuvB96MA-xVLEM3f70SVzSL4XFJIdep9eNz_ivmlMEVmEPaXN/s400/89702679_10156531651856991_4474388304954916864_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Why do I share this today - especially when we have "shelter in place" instituted in my county and there is widespread panic...we are trying to keep it together at home with a meal plan and a daily schedule...keep our good habits going ( exercise, eat healthy, practice gratitude and mindfulness) and trying to slowly shave off the bad ones...<br />
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Here are some of the things my family and I are practicing to get through this 3 week in-shelter mandate :<br />
<ol>
<li>Clean our counters thoroughly after every meal, moment we get up and when we go to sleep</li>
<li>Wash our hands thoroughly with warm water and soap ( hand sanitizers are a bit scarce around our house, so we are making do with hand soap and applying aloe vera gel afterwards)</li>
<li>Keep our distance (from people not cohabiting with us) </li>
<li>We don't leave the house unless we absolutely have to (walks, hikes in the solo or with the dog don't count...but obviously if you live in a super crowded area be cautious about that one)</li>
<li>We have taken out board games, I have ear marked books I want to read, shows I want to binge watch ( Homeland, Just Add Magic (with my son), Murder She Baked...)</li>
<li>My mother in law (who is visiting from India) and I are cooking healthy, nutritious food with the food we have on hand.</li>
</ol>
I usually have a lot of grains in my pantry { think Quinoa, Barley, Farro, Steel-Cut Oats, Brown Rice, Lentils and Beans ( I counted 12 different kinds) and we went to the Farmer's market and picked up a lot of greens ( radish, mint, bell peppers, red onions, broccoli, celery, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, chili (wow...lots of stuff with C's) }. This was the inspiration for dinner (and a couple lunches this week)...anyone who knows me knows of my love for KHICHIDI...so here goes.<br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;">The 6 C- Immunity Building Khichidi</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSP2tORzAAjbeSb06lKN0eFj22A_xTDMVwQSouf5gs7NhRVdpw5NOhoH4SJa052hokNJDPnue1eFjwtPxTaX-B_2v1KTg5sZiZs3fw5QNXKekQC1F32DXZkwzL__M2FvwokAceFntRmo8t/s1600/Screen+Shot+2020-03-17+at+10.00.33+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="914" data-original-width="928" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSP2tORzAAjbeSb06lKN0eFj22A_xTDMVwQSouf5gs7NhRVdpw5NOhoH4SJa052hokNJDPnue1eFjwtPxTaX-B_2v1KTg5sZiZs3fw5QNXKekQC1F32DXZkwzL__M2FvwokAceFntRmo8t/s400/Screen+Shot+2020-03-17+at+10.00.33+AM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">What you need</span></b><br />
<ol>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1/2 Cup Quinoa + 1/2 Cup <a href="https://www.thespruceeats.com/what-is-bulgur-wheat-3376810" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Bulgur Wheat</span></a> ( use Brown Rice or any other grain you have at home that you want to use up!) (washed in cold water and soaked with green moong dal (with the skin) 1/2 hr in hot water I boiled in my electric kettle)</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 cup <span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://www.tarladalal.com/glossary-green-moong-dal-522i" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Green Moong</span></a> </span>(with skin)</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Chopped Vegetables : Celery, Cauliflower, Carrots, Cilantro, Chili, Cabbage</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">3 cups water </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2 tsp Ghee</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 small knob of ginger, 1 medium chopped tomatoes</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Liquid Aminos (for seasoning), Avocado Oil (or any other oil), cumin seeds, Hing (asafoetida), turmeric powder, black pepper powder, roasted cumin powder</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 whole lemon and salt to taste</span></li>
</ol>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">To Cook </span></b></div>
<div>
<ol>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Turn on your Instant Pot to Saute. Add your ghee....add hing, cumin seeds and the roughly chopped ginger and chopped tomatoes. Add turmeric and black pepper powder.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Add the chopped vegetables</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Add all the pre-soaked grains and lentils to the instant pot and give it a stir for a minute. </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Add Vegetable Broth/ Water (I added water)</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Add the Liquid Aminos/Salt and any other dry spices you add to your khichidi. I usually add roasted jeera powder which gives it a smokiness.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Put the IP on 6 minutes, High Pressure</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When done open, Natural Release - taste for salt. </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now add fresh lemon juice and chopped cilantro. </span></li>
</ol>
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Enjoy with a cup of Kefir...now on to my binge watching Homeland and then practicing a few <a href="https://bollyx.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">BollyX </span></a>choreos on demand 😊😊</div>
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Meenakshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382511200905296310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5446994384974585907.post-5955868534196218622020-03-13T23:14:00.000-07:002020-03-14T21:50:32.924-07:00Sunshine in my bowl...<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yesterday night was relaxed as we took a long relaxed stroll by the bay and almost forgot the surreal existence as of the past couple weeks...the beautiful orange skies, the loving pup, the conversations with the husband all lulled me into a false sense of peace...the peace continued into the night as we watched "Dark Waters".</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSWolSmvrFqymppC9drsaPPsMfHgPTAIJsarh3c2r5MEeWUTaKsCIse9Ee_OGnbhbVioZVptUoHZje_hly5V1qa7XQT9HmVwRfFOpZrf-e6dJSBv35Nd1xgv7OKwGirw23poApJROj3lm/s1600/89910294_10156521573311991_3019297490089279488_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSWolSmvrFqymppC9drsaPPsMfHgPTAIJsarh3c2r5MEeWUTaKsCIse9Ee_OGnbhbVioZVptUoHZje_hly5V1qa7XQT9HmVwRfFOpZrf-e6dJSBv35Nd1xgv7OKwGirw23poApJROj3lm/s400/89910294_10156521573311991_3019297490089279488_o.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I got up in the morning and remembered that Whole Foods had their <span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2020/03/9522303/whole-foods-beauty-week-sale-march-2020" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">beauty bag</span></a> </span>sale, so I called my favorite store and asked them to hold one for me...after a leisurely cup of chai and peanuts I made my way around noon to pick up the said "beauty bag" and some fruits and vegetables for the week...I was greeted by a grim sight...masked faces, overflowing parking lots...I waited 20 minutes to get a parking spot and empty racks...not that I was looking for toilet paper or clorox wipes (thank god!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My one request to people along with the hand washing and social distancing is "community thinking" - you don't need boxes and boxes of disinfectants and wipes...leave some for your neighbors...if your neighbor gets the virus there is a high likelihood of proximity making the odds not so fair for you...so please, pretty please do your part.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Getting back to what we ate this week - </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I posted a super simple <a href="https://randomponderingsofamom.blogspot.com/2020/03/covid-19-new-normal.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Khichdi</span> </a>recipe that my family enjoyed this week and I served it with a spectacular Kadhi. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Kadhi is the food equivalent of a warm hug...it's tangy, creamy and oh so satisfying on a day when you need some "pick me up". My recipe was super simple and ssssh! don't tell anyone I was really skeptical about making it in my Instant Pot...there I said it. But now I will never ever make it any other way.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><b>Simple Kadhi</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: blue;">What you need</span></b></span><br />
<ol>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">3 Cups Water+ <span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://www.strausfamilycreamery.com/products/organic-lowfat-plain-european-style-yogurt/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">1 Cup Yogurt</span></a> </span>(the link has the information on the yogurt I used Straus)</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">2 table spoons Besan/chick pea flour</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Turmeric, Hing, Fresh Curry Leaves, Mustard Seeds, Cumin Seeds, </li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Chopped Serrano chili (2 small or one large), thinly chopped ginger</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Chopped Cilantro</li>
</ol>
<div>
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">To Cook </span></b></div>
<div>
<ol>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Whisk the Water, Yogurt and Besan to a smooth watery consistency, add salt to taste, a little bit of sugar (wee pinch) and the turmeric - Keep aside</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Turn on your Instant Pot to Saute. Add your ghee....add hing, cumin seeds and mustard seeds. When they splutter, add chopped chili, ginger and curry leaves.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Stir for 1/2 minute to 1 minute</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now add the yogurt mixture from step 1 </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Soup Mode for 4 minutes, let the pressure release naturally</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Open the IP, give it a stir, add salt as per taste, garnish with chopped cilantro</span></li>
</ol>
Enjoy with some rice or quinoa, I enjoyed this with both by khichdi and also with some brown rice. Please as you take your next trip to the grocery store, remember your neighbors and leave some rations for them.</div>
Meenakshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382511200905296310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5446994384974585907.post-58853226041647980382020-03-12T18:58:00.002-07:002020-03-12T18:58:42.424-07:00COVID 19 : The New Normal!<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: -0.2px;">President Donald Trump addressed the nation Wednesday from the Oval Office, calling </span><span class="caps" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; letter-spacing: -0.2px;">COVID</span><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: -0.2px;">-19 a <b>“foreign virus”</b> ... it made my blood boil. I really worry about the situation. Here's why :</span></span><br />
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<ol>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.2px;">Our county - San Mateo saw a rise from 2 to 20 cases of infections in less than 2 days (rapid spread of infection)</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.2px;">Our grocery stores are bare of weird essentials : toilet paper, sanitizers, cleaning products and water (increased panic)</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.2px;">Infrastructure on shutdown (schools will shut down for over 3 weeks)</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.2px;">Major events shutdown : school events, work events, new school open houses etc.</span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2px;">I won't tell you this is sitting easy on my sense of calm but all we can do is prepare for this pandemic the best we can. Here's what we are doing :</span></span></div>
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<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2px;">Washing up as much as we can</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2px;">Not going to too many public places</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2px;">Trying to eat healthy and building our immunity</span></span></li>
</ol>
</div>
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<div style="background-color: white;">
<strong><em><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Not my Amma's Khichdi</span></em></strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhDs2_wSU7_RhAIokSvgsZf9oGPTj0_Akvk-U48DJenkNdeqgAHd2ebtImnDvAanSsm8B-9GxR1PI0OOt0JPowuUnZcy9BiTFsUhXNWI0Kgsm8oHqSRW387Gqsw4kBBExsuiq5OOdVTnVO/s1600/IMG_4147.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhDs2_wSU7_RhAIokSvgsZf9oGPTj0_Akvk-U48DJenkNdeqgAHd2ebtImnDvAanSsm8B-9GxR1PI0OOt0JPowuUnZcy9BiTFsUhXNWI0Kgsm8oHqSRW387Gqsw4kBBExsuiq5OOdVTnVO/s400/IMG_4147.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What you need</b></span><ol>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1/2 Cup Quinoa + 1/2 Cup Brown Rice (washed in cold water and soaked with moong dal 1/2 hr in hot water I boiled in my electric kettle)</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">4 cups Sprouted Green Moong</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">3 cups water ( I like my Khichdi to have a nice mushy consistency...add lesser water if you want it more solid)</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2 tsp Ghee</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 small knob of ginger, 1 medium chopped tomatoes</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Liquid Aminos (for seasoning), Avocado Oil (or any other oil), cumin seeds, Hing (asafoetida), turmeric powder, black pepper powder, roasted cumin powder</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 whole lemon and salt to taste</span></li>
</ol>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">To Cook </span></b></div>
<div>
<ol>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Turn on your Instant Pot to Saute. Add your ghee....add hing, cumin seeds and the roughly chopped ginger and chopped tomatoes. Add turmeric and black pepper powder.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Add the Rice+ Quinoa to the instant pot and give it a stir for a minute. </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Add the Sprouted Moong</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Add Vegetable Broth/ Water (I added water)</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Add the Liquid Aminos/Salt and any other dry spices you add to your khichidi. I usually add roasted jeera powder which gives it a smokiness.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Put the IP on 5 minutes, High Pressure</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When done open, Natural Release - taste for salt. </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now add fresh lime juice and cut cilantro. </span></li>
</ol>
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Now enjoy the meal with your family, go out for a walk...when will you get the time for such peace and quiet in quite a bit of isolation...</div>
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Let's face our fear head on -- we are all exposed and there is a lot we don't know about this virus...but what I do know is - I believe in our community and I believe in the miracle that is our body and I know we will get through this.</div>
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Meenakshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382511200905296310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5446994384974585907.post-74540523133611761022020-02-06T21:57:00.001-08:002020-02-06T21:57:19.636-08:00A Woman of No Importance...<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><i>“My dear young lady, there was a great deal of truth; I dare say, in what you said, and you looked very pretty while you said it, which is much more important.”</i></b></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"> ― </span><span class="authorOrTitle" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-weight: bold;">Oscar Wilde, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"></span><span id="quote_book_link_122648" style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">A Woman of No Importance</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Mhaare ghar ki chhoriyaan aage na jaave hai, dusro ke ghar jaave hai" - <i>"The girls in our family don't go ahead and succeed, but are married off to another home"</i></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">The movie "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saand_Ki_Aankh" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Saand Ki Aankh</span></a>" hit way close to home with it's initial dialogs reeking of patriarchy and male chauvinism...yet the way women supported each other in building each other's confidence and rising against all odds to become this sheer indomitable force of nature made me so happy. For me the movie was an </span><span style="background-color: white;"> emotional roller-coaster ride which is inspiring, and at the same time disturbing, as it made me think of the inequality that exists in our free and modern world (India). This film will make you think about the women in your life and their sacrifices for their families. It definitely will make men question themselves if they are being an impediment in the way of women's success. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hoping that equality, respect and dignity don't remain buzz words in our professional repertoire. But while we unravel that complex web...dinner plans for this week were super-simple. I learnt how to "poach salmon" in an Instant Pot (gasp!) </span><br />
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 17px;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 17px;"><b><span style="color: blue;">Salmon Power Bowl</span></b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3fyCZhKV7Wfute9qf1viej79OrjBESFwvZDVPZiADUQTcoBbcV16mzR_cfgzUeS2r1ubni640CdNLbB-bCGQrhnnv-en3s7Hz0AYyTc8PUqrYVwMbwgHGPzfxHwZSBoeTeauEWCDRW3CC/s1600/IMG_3746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1549" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3fyCZhKV7Wfute9qf1viej79OrjBESFwvZDVPZiADUQTcoBbcV16mzR_cfgzUeS2r1ubni640CdNLbB-bCGQrhnnv-en3s7Hz0AYyTc8PUqrYVwMbwgHGPzfxHwZSBoeTeauEWCDRW3CC/s320/IMG_3746.jpg" width="309" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">What you need?</span></b></span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Frozen Salmon Fillets (equal sized pieces)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 Large Lemon</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fennel Sprigs...lightly chopped</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Oil Spray (to spray the salmon fillets)</span></span></li>
</ul>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">How to make it?</span></b></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Put 2 cups of water, put the metal steamer insert </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Place the Salmon Fillets on the steamer insert</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Squeeze Lemon Juice on both sides of the fillet, generously sprinkle salt and pepper. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Put one slice of Lemon on each fillet and generously put the chopped Fennel leaves (herb) on top of the fish</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Manual - High for 5 minute</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Quick Release</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The sky is the limit for your power bowls. Mine was chock-ful of nutritional goodies like - Quinoa, Sweet Potatoes, Red Pepper, Red Onions, Mixed Greens...( you could put roasted veggies, cooked barley, farro...).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I will leave you with the wise words from the play "A Woman of No Importance..." - <span style="background-color: white;">“<i>To get into the best society, nowadays, one has either to feed people, amuse people, or shock people - that is all!”...</i>interesting perspective.</span></span></div>
Meenakshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382511200905296310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5446994384974585907.post-64743995183341815302020-01-31T12:02:00.000-08:002020-01-31T12:08:11.897-08:00Detoxing from the Toxic!<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: blue;">"Stay away from toxic people, they have a problem for every solution"</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Is it the end of January already ???</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> I haven't blogged in almost 4 months hidden away in my hidey hole trying to make sense of some of the nonsense happening in my life. Health has never been an afterthought for me - so eating right and exercising is something I have been very consistent about...but what does one do about one's stress level...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yet some wisdom did arise from some of my experiences:</span></div>
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</div>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Speak Up </b>- don't bottle up the experience, if things don't seem right, they aren't right</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Ally Up</b> - Get out of victim mentality, you have a support network - leverage it</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Wisen U</b>p - Figure out if there is really a solution, if not move away - get away from that situation</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>(Don't) Give Up</b> - Absolutely do what is right for the situation, don't give up ever! My father always told me that the hardest thing to do is - that thing that is right! But if you don't do it your conscience will never let you live it down.</span></li>
</ol>
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And most importantly remember "Strong people know how to forgive, but smart people never forget"</div>
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As I was unravelling myself from toxic people and situations, I was also mindfully getting my body to that place of equilibrium that it is used to. I made a super-simple Mushroom, Lentils and Barley Soup (two times in a row) which really hit the spot this week. </div>
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<b>Barley</b> is a super grain which helps with weight loss, reducing blood sugar and blood pressure, improves lipid profile (not recommended for someone with Celiac Disease) - the word I used to describe it to a non-believer it's like a brush on your internal organs, cleaning you inside out...</div>
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<b>Lentils</b> - you don't want me writing sonnets but honestly what's not to like with high protein and high fiber</div>
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<b>Mushrooms</b> - another ingredient that a lot of people love to hate... they have riboflavins for heart health, lots of antioxidants (selenium, folate, beta-glucans...). I love mushrooms...the earthy flavor and the texture.</div>
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The soup I made was a very very simple one that lasted many a meals for our 3-Person Family. I store my soups in mason jars and then heat and serve with 1-2 toasted whole grain slices of bread (which one you ask : Dave's Killer Bread). Without further ado let's get to the recipe ( I have added links to the ingredients that are not easily available)</div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><b><u>Detox Barley, Mushroom and Lentils Soup</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>What's in it?</b></span></span></div>
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<ul style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Chopped vegetables - 4 big stalks of Celery (organic), 5 big carrots, 1 Box of white Organic Mushrooms (12 Oz), 1 medium onion, Grated Ginger (small knob), Half a bunch of fresh parsley</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #181818;">2 Containers </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Organic-Original-Chicken-Pacific-Foods/dp/B0146I1AP0/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=pacific+organic+bone+broth&qid=1580499963&sr=8-4" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Bone Broth</span></a><span style="color: #181818;"> - 8 oz (I use vegetable broth on the days that we are keeping it meatless</span></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Water - 2 Quarts </span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bragg-Liquid-Purpose-Seasoning-Alternative/dp/B00URR46LA/ref=sr_1_4?crid=15GU9QFKMLOS1&keywords=braggs+liquid+aminos&qid=1580500335&sprefix=braggs+liquid%2Caps%2C211&sr=8-4" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Bragg's Liquid Amino</span></a></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bragg-Organic-Kelp-Delight-Seasoning/dp/B01M122FV6/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2TNG1YZIIJ8GB&keywords=braggs+sea+kelp+seasoning&qid=1580500281&sprefix=braggs+sea+%2Caps%2C210&sr=8-2" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Bragg's Sea Kelp Seasoning</span></a></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Salt and Pepper to Taste</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #181818;">1 cup of </span><span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Arrowhead-Mills-Organic-Pearled-Barley/dp/B014CZMPZG/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=bob+red+mill+barley+organic&qid=1580500126&sr=8-2" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">barley</span></a> </span><span style="color: #181818;">(soaked with the lentils in hot water for 1 hour)</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #181818;">1 cup of </span><span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/24-Mantra-Organic-Lentils-Pancharatna/dp/B07ZX1S444/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=mantra+organic+mixed+lentils&qid=1580500182&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">mixed lentils</span></a> </span><span style="color: #181818;"> ( I swear by these lentils - very delicious and you can get a bigger bag in your neighboring indian store for a lot less!)</span></span></li>
</ul>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>How I made it?</b></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<ul style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Turn on Saute Mode on your instant pot</span></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Add 1 tsp Olive oil ( oil of your choice)</span></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Saute the grated ginger and onions</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Add the Chopped vegetables, sprinkle with Bragg's Liquid Amino ( I put about 3 tablespoons) and the Sea Kelp seasoning ( 2 teaspoons)</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Add the lentils and barley ( that you pre-soaked in hot water for an hour)</span></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Add the bone broth and water</span></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">High Pressure Manual on 10 minutes (no release)</span></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Stir...add Salt & Pepper to taste</span></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"> ENJOY!</span></span></li>
</ul>
<div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>Servings</b></span></span></div>
<div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">This is about 12 servings. </span></span></div>
<div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">This soup has < 200 calories and > 8 grams of Fiber and 10 grams of Protein. True is the saying "Soup is Cozy"</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Meenakshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382511200905296310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5446994384974585907.post-11095122977522601562019-10-21T07:06:00.002-07:002019-10-22T06:56:17.708-07:00Tentative Parenting : The Courage to be Disliked...<span style="font-family: inherit;">Prodigal Son : <span style="color: blue;"><i>Ma - what's for dinner?</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Working Mom : <span style="color: blue;"><i>Sambar and Dosa...yummy na?</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Prodigal Son : <span style="color: blue;"><i>Ma - you made Indian again 😔...what about Ravioli?</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Working Mom : <i><span style="color: blue;">I want you to eat some Indian food too baba...</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">(Prodigal Son walks away with a huff)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">For a mother who wakes up extra early in the morning to get dinner prep done in the morning prior to leaving for work, this can be particularly disheartening. Especially when I know that I can have Ravioli or Pasta or even Sausage and Potatoes on the table in < 15 minutes too. However, a book that I read this weekend, gave me a new perspective on how to react to situations like this "small or big". The book was a japanese phenomenon apparently but I picked it up because it didn't give me lip service on how I can sparkle and shine and get liked by everyone but talked about having "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Courage-Be-Disliked-Phenomenon-Happiness/dp/1501197274/ref=asc_df_1501197274/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=245369089410&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=18141020412732815385&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031929&hvtargid=pla-554722105364&psc=1" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">The Courage to be Disliked</span></a>"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZVYL5dNO_JHVOzKa-dNda8oGP6asaJnclyhtxPb334A4aN6Qp_UFlXuy9MTUAsWJvLPPx_W_qBj8nvojxL74Q92Q5FtCF0IdQ5qzun-Z-4hmW1nB2k-f9RMqZVkwZwlJ2bwSYIMUcYHx/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-10-21+at+6.57.50+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="708" data-original-width="474" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZVYL5dNO_JHVOzKa-dNda8oGP6asaJnclyhtxPb334A4aN6Qp_UFlXuy9MTUAsWJvLPPx_W_qBj8nvojxL74Q92Q5FtCF0IdQ5qzun-Z-4hmW1nB2k-f9RMqZVkwZwlJ2bwSYIMUcYHx/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-10-21+at+6.57.50+AM.png" width="214" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here are some of the key things the book reinforced for me :</span><br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">You care too much about what everyone else thinks about you and that is the root of your anxiety and unhappiness (yup! somewhat)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Your excuses are weak and sometimes you don't have the courage to look the real problem in the face and tackle it (guilty as charged!)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Learning to separate your tasks from other people's is key to finding a bit of freedom and living a little more true to yourself (so true - I am constantly picking up after prodigal son, worried about if he is eating, grades, theater, robotics...and don't get me started about work...)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">All problems are relationship problems : it comes down to us wanting to change how others think of us or perceive us and it also involves us getting incredibly righteous and judgy about other people...result - CONFLICT</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">the last one my favorite - All relationships are horizontal...we treat them as vertical, in some we look up to people and it changes how we interact with them and in others we look down on people and it affects how we interact with them...what if we treated all relationships from an equal footing...an interesting thought right?</span></li>
</ol>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">With that said it's still 6.30 AM and my dosa batter is ready for the evening and my sambar is bubbling away in the Instant Pot. What you want my Sambar recipe...sure thing...I can tell you it's a life-saver recipe for me 😊</span></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">15 Minute Sambar</span></b></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFr6T5g-d5kZnl3XGDOq1JJGjK2H-qDGU5FsXsAIwCQj5NjoUSbZxlQfzRSoIRAYPjR1iOMK8Jl1-1Q0viEbqmIGIqEzZx_UG3KKbB9Q9l_xYKVicBO0Wm-KDplD31Dkr31hrYg7ht05x1/s1600/IMG_2877.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="640" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFr6T5g-d5kZnl3XGDOq1JJGjK2H-qDGU5FsXsAIwCQj5NjoUSbZxlQfzRSoIRAYPjR1iOMK8Jl1-1Q0viEbqmIGIqEzZx_UG3KKbB9Q9l_xYKVicBO0Wm-KDplD31Dkr31hrYg7ht05x1/s320/IMG_2877.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="background-color: white;">You need :</b></span></div>
<br />
<ul style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Chopped Onion (1/2), Chopped Garlic (3-4 Pods), Chopped Tomato (1)</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 Large Daikon Radish (chopped into medium size)</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 cup Toor Dal (soaked in hot water)</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Grand Sweets and Snacks Sambar Powder (Indian Store)</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Imli Pichku ( pouch of tamarind pulp)</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Other items : Turmeric Powder, Hing, Whole Mustard, Curry Leaves, Ghee</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Steps :</span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<ol>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Turn the IP to Saute Mode - Add in 1/2 spoon ghee, add the hing, now splutter the mustard seeds and curry leaves. </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Add the Chopped Onions and Garlic and brown it in the instant pot.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Once onions are browned, add the turmeric, sambar powder, chopped tomatoes, cut daikon radish and soaked dal. Add 2.5 cups of water, more if you like your sambar a watery consistency</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Give it a whirl, add salt to taste and the tamarid paste</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">High Pressure 10 minutes (depending on how mushy you want your sambar - I tend to go longer) - No Release</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Tips & Tricks : </b></span><br />
<ol>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Double the Quantity and save some for the next day! I always do and it tastes better</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pack Quinoa and Sambar for a quick hot lunch for your kids (add a dollop of ghee, they need it)</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Add a cup of Quinoa and an extra cup and half of water - it's an easy version of Besibelebhaat</span></li>
</ol>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My biggest learning the past few months has been while nourishing your body with food and exercise don't forget to nourish your soul and spirit...whether it's a random act of kindness, whether it's just good old solitude or reading a wonderful book like the one I did...<b>be kind to yourself</b>.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
Meenakshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382511200905296310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5446994384974585907.post-5196468599243378872019-08-25T13:40:00.005-07:002020-07-18T23:11:22.023-07:00Be the Hero of your own Story!<div style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi82rPgwrKlc8wBK7NvuPWMJjk-bWtgxkAEd-rLEGrGrFl0EUSdqlauSTtxjjKXft3M7-uacFzMFH_-jcEsDPRS0bgOn4iaBYfYFZ2FEk_kK6u8R3Y15ze9ju7_hpDcwH2RPy_pTbRdm-SJ/s1600/IMG_2763.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi82rPgwrKlc8wBK7NvuPWMJjk-bWtgxkAEd-rLEGrGrFl0EUSdqlauSTtxjjKXft3M7-uacFzMFH_-jcEsDPRS0bgOn4iaBYfYFZ2FEk_kK6u8R3Y15ze9ju7_hpDcwH2RPy_pTbRdm-SJ/s400/IMG_2763.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">My weeks are mostly upbeat and busy with a few
weeks thrown in that are absolutely exhilarating and brilliant and then there
are some weeks where all I want to do is drag myself back home, lick my virtual
wounds, drag the comforter over my head and just go to sleep! This past week
was in the last category and honestly after sulking alone for an entire evening
and a day (the husband and kid were away at a Robotics tournament), I said
enough was enough and took the puppy out for a long hike to clear my head and by the end of my 2 hour plus long walk I felt more like the
"hero" of my story vs. that person that needed rescuing.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br />
<b>How to Break Free from Victim
Mentality?</b></span></span></div>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"><b>Take ownership and responsibility for
your actions are and their outcomes</b></span>.Determine what is needed and what is
important to you and what do you need to do to make it happen. Don’t waste
time blaming or getting angry at those who don’t want or need the same things
you do. Get busy taking care of what’s important to you, and leave the others
out of it.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Stop blaming</b>. <span style="font-family: inherit;">When you hear
yourself going into blame stories, whether against other people, the world,
life, whomever or whatever... say </span><span style="border: 1pt none; padding: 0in;">“stop”</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> to
yourself out loud, and actually turn your attention away from
your blaming thoughts.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Become aware of the root of your sense
of powerlessness</b>. <span style="font-family: inherit;">Before you construct the next narrative on who’s
stealing your power, get curious about the underlying feelings of powerlessness
that precede all situations. Fix it!</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Be compassionate to yourself and others.</b> <span style="font-family: inherit;">Acknowledge
your suffering with kindness, and then consider how to snap out of it. If
there is a way for you to help someone else snap out of it ...more power to
you. Offering kindness is the surest antidote to “Poor me.” </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Practice Gratitude. </b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Victim
mentality focuses you on your perceived loss . Try flipping your
perspective and focusing on something that matters to you, that you do
enjoy, and that you do "get." Shift your attention from what you’re
missing to what you have. Today I am immensely grateful that my son and his
awesome robotics team clean-swept the robotics tournament and qualified at the
State Level. I am grateful for this beautiful view of a tree standing alone but
strong...beautiful in it's solitude, grateful for the playful puppy who walked
an hour by my side as we quietly enjoyed nature and the quiet peace.</span></span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">
So are you going to write your story differently starting today?<br />
<i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><br /></span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">“You yourself, as much as anybody in the
entire universe, deserve your love and attention.” </span></i>— Buddha</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--EndFragment--><br />Meenakshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382511200905296310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5446994384974585907.post-50032977066954120662019-07-27T23:44:00.000-07:002019-07-27T23:44:23.325-07:00All I want is my cup of happy...<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<ol style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><b><i>"Do not set aside your happiness. Do not wait to be happy in the future. The best time to be happy is always now.</i>"</b></span></ol>
</blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBYHV4AH3KQQ-OeS9j_0Wl2gqt9W8O0oIS8vzJsu6Wy4ymp-Imt_Pg6XeM5xo52STGs0CHMlmfgxXMHUTVIioqx23WCmFejxdZXsFvrVOLceM9k0FVMxqwbcUI_uzZIFLlKbDjIAIm23-/s1600/68326752_10155977587536991_4228478474953687040_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBYHV4AH3KQQ-OeS9j_0Wl2gqt9W8O0oIS8vzJsu6Wy4ymp-Imt_Pg6XeM5xo52STGs0CHMlmfgxXMHUTVIioqx23WCmFejxdZXsFvrVOLceM9k0FVMxqwbcUI_uzZIFLlKbDjIAIm23-/s400/68326752_10155977587536991_4228478474953687040_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">For me happiness is in the small things now...it's K1, K2 and me taking a walk with the puppy, its watching a funny episode of friends, hanging out with friends, dancing in a Zumba/BollyX class and today it was in that cup of chai that I drank while I read an Amanda Quick murder mystery...yeah yeah chicklit</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have compiled a list of things that I do to mindfully, see if they help you come up with your own list: </span><br />
<ol style="background-color: white; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; widows: 2;"><ol>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Make a mental Happy List :</b> I have never written down one formally but there are a lot of things that make me happy - chai, walks, chats with my boys, my little puppy, my work, my friends, dancing and Yoga among other things</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Exercise : </b>This past month has been hard work wise and I almost didn't make it to my exercise classes...I was so exhausted ...but I stuck it out, somedays walking in late but always present and dancing to a beat I didn't always get but which made me sweat like crazy definitely made me happy</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Self Acceptance : </b>You are made a certain way for a reason...accept it and love it. I always worry about my weight, my odd sense of humor and perspective on life but lately I am more accepting of my perceived flaws and indulge in accepting myself in a positive way.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Minimize your desires :</span> </i></b>I have been reading the Bhagavad Gita and it says Desire leads to Attachment and when Desires are thwarted it leads to frustration and unhappiness. Why not just want and need less...happiness will be automatically ours</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Practice Gratitude :</b> Every night before I go to sleep I list to myself three things that I am Grateful for...and I usually go to sleep feeling Happy.</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Change Your breathing </b>- since I discovered that Breathing can get me to control my temper, I have practised <a href="https://randomponderingsofamom.blogspot.com/2012/07/anger-management-and-enlightenment-on.html" target="_blank">intentional breathing</a> (pranayama)</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Act Happy</b> - I am not saying Fake it But I am saying if you smile even though you don't feel like it...in a couple minutes you will see your mood is elevated...people are smiling at you, the clouds part on a rainbow, that growling dog suddenly starts wagging it's tail....you get the picture.</span></li>
</ol>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Today I was happy because I got over my fear of cooking lamb and made an awesome Lamb Curry in < 25 minutes, no marination required. Whole Foods had a sale of organic, grass fed boneless leg of lamb - I couldn't resist buying some, but there was a small voice in my mind which kept telling me that I will totally mess it up - Guess what, I didn't - I made this totally awesome Lamb Curry instead!</span><div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><b>Easy Peasy Lamb Curry </b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUL3k-ShiIF27gdVQxiXN2pMSJ11mMjqZxoKKHm8VAfYj1PPUBjEElW1Y_R7vSISQtFsFMtewZbgmzhkMkeH5VkevkA2SS3CNjUePENjLPI9vrlyPOO1Jwq_aVdMDCCp4nBRJtC4BkclS-/s1600/IMG_1963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUL3k-ShiIF27gdVQxiXN2pMSJ11mMjqZxoKKHm8VAfYj1PPUBjEElW1Y_R7vSISQtFsFMtewZbgmzhkMkeH5VkevkA2SS3CNjUePENjLPI9vrlyPOO1Jwq_aVdMDCCp4nBRJtC4BkclS-/s400/IMG_1963.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ_jC9stuG5VFGvtjAGRB8DGAjqFYSQ-Q_N0PyV_2VjGltYTEwnVjP6HqdJ_5I9BkE-S-oYsmFajcWa0WpxZRoVsys5kd3FCqA3FaFar3zrVJh-_5icP6KBdRB05cS6xNCIT5KL1j-nN8O/s1600/IMG_1965.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ_jC9stuG5VFGvtjAGRB8DGAjqFYSQ-Q_N0PyV_2VjGltYTEwnVjP6HqdJ_5I9BkE-S-oYsmFajcWa0WpxZRoVsys5kd3FCqA3FaFar3zrVJh-_5icP6KBdRB05cS6xNCIT5KL1j-nN8O/s400/IMG_1965.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<div class="item ERName" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; letter-spacing: 0.4px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.4px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Prep time: 5 mins</span></span></div>
<div class="ERHead" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; letter-spacing: 0.4px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Cook time:< 2<time datetime="PT2H20M" itemprop="cookTime" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;">0 minutes</time></span></div>
<div class="ERHead" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; letter-spacing: 0.4px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Total time: < than 25 minutes</span></div>
<div class="ERHead" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; letter-spacing: 0.4px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Serves: 6<span class="yield" style="box-sizing: border-box;">-8</span></span></div>
<div class="ERIngredients" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; letter-spacing: 0.4px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<div class="ERIngredientsHeader" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<b><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="ERIngredientsHeader" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<b><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ingredients</span></span></b></div>
<ul class="ingredients" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 26px; padding: 0px;">
<li class="ingredient" style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">11/2 pounds boneless lamb meat, <b>cubed really small </b></span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://randomponderingsofamom.blogspot.com/2018/01/he-saysshe-says.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">1 8 oz container Bhuna Masala</span></a></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 teaspoon ground cinnamon</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Roopak-Mutton-Masala-Indian-Seasoning/dp/B07CVZH76L/ref=sr_1_21_sspa?gclid=CjwKCAjw7O_pBRA3EiwA_lmtfql3S-h8lmjfofBQ8gYS7QVQOgyEPhltRlO_zrdHdxR9xRciipJG6RoCLucQAvD_BwE&hvadid=178545955123&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9031929&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1o1&hvqmt=b&hvrand=10098458993140013016&hvtargid=kwd-36123981164&hydadcr=28229_10169401&keywords=roopak+masala&qid=1564294547&s=gateway&sr=8-21-spons&psc=1" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">4 tablespoons Roopak Meat Masala</span></a></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1/2 lb Green Peas</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 large potato chopped into little pieces</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ketchup, Salt to Taste, Kasturi Methi (fenugreek leaves)</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="ERInstructions" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; letter-spacing: 0.4px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<div class="ERInstructionsHeader" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<b><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">How I made it?</span></span></b></div>
<div class="instructions" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<ol style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 26px; padding: 0px;">
<li class="instruction" style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Turn Instant Pot on Saute Mode. Add in the bhuna masala and the pieces of lamb and cook them together...I did not add any more oil</span></li>
<li class="instruction" style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When all of the meat is partially browned ~ 3-4 minutes, add the chopped potatoes and the roopak masala. Add another 8 oz of water</span></li>
<li class="instruction" style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Turn on the Instant Pot to 6 minutes, High Pressure</span></li>
<li class="instruction" style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let it naturally release</span></li>
<li class="instruction" style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now open, stir, add in the green peas, cinnamon powder, ketchup, salt to taste and the kasturi methi</span></li>
<li class="instruction" style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Turn on the Instant Pot to 1 minutes, High Pressure</span></li>
<li class="instruction" style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let it naturally release</span></li>
<li class="instruction" style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Once it's all done - Stir, Taste and Enjoy with fresh low-carb rotis or a scoop of quinoa</span></li>
</ol>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What's your happy place for this weekend?</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Meenakshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382511200905296310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5446994384974585907.post-27045677410609738832019-07-20T12:05:00.000-07:002019-07-20T12:05:29.627-07:00Grains on my brains...<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: blue;"><b><i>"True Genius resides in the capacity for evaluation of uncertain, hazardous and conflicting information and making the right decisions"</i></b></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Winston Churchill</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So my head is reeling with information - I just finished a book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/031623480X/wwwdrperlmutt-20"><span style="color: blue;">Grain Brain</span></a> - net of the book is Grains damage the brains - even healthy grains. I found the book a little one-dimensional and almost fanatical in expounding the virtues of a high fat ketogenic diet (made my head hurt!). I am not sold on the idea of giving up all healthy carbs as they lead to Type-2 diabetes and heart diseases (its partial truth) ...I believe there needs to be balance. I sincerely believe animal protein causes inflammation and the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0047Y175M/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?ie=UTF8&btkr=1"><span style="color: blue;">Eat to Live</span></a> by Dr. Fuhrman has played a very critical role in shaping this belief in my mind. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So here's how I have broken down all this conflicting information in my head - </div>
<ol>
<li><b>Understand your diet</b>. Log your current habits in an app - I have been religiously using MyFitness Pal ( came to the conclusion that I needed to add more protein to my diet and opted for plant based protein sources)</li>
<li><b>Our ancestors probably ate some grains so why not us</b> - so focus on the real nutritious grains aka ancient grains - in India it was Amaranth, Ragi (Finger Millet), in South America it was Quinoa, in Africa it was Teff, in Americas it was Barley. Let's follow our ancestors and get a little adventurous. I usually cook a lot with quinoa and steel cut oats and have been converting a lot of quinoa haters to lovers...one person at a time</li>
<li><b>Eliminate the White</b> - yes, yes I know white flour, white rice is amazing to the taste - you are talking to someone for whom White Rice WAS crack...my go to meal is thayir sadam with avvakai pickle ( curd rice and mango pickle). I have weaned myself 98% off "white" - why 98% - when I go to a friend's or to India and the only option is rice - I will take a spoonful and relish it ✌</li>
<li><b>Grains are the environmentally sound decision</b> - compared to the meats we spend one tenth the energy growing these whole grains - so this might be an irrelevant offshoot - but it is critical factor if this matters to you.</li>
<li><b>Moderation is key</b> - our Indian palate makes the carbs (rice, roti) the center or mainstay of the meal - flipping the plate to make the rajma or the choley and the veggies the mainstay of the meal is critical to helping us obtain balance. I highly recommend reading Dr. Ron Sinha's book "<span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IOFMOYS/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?ie=UTF8&btkr=1">The South Asian Health Solution</a></span>"</li>
</ol>
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Here's one of my favorite porridge made with Quinoa and Steel Cut Oats - you can have it for breakfast or brinner...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi81d5FRCbMH-1b_HFFV7zCZzB7BcfmGTq22UtIs7iDHRa6sWSSQvVaSjRsPSG8_2qulaq0p-sGPg2NXmr_b8CstaY8mSjNywj5CKOQCxGir0dPXzPViYqOSggHCw4RwxIvmW9itOlh9yDW/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-01-28+at+7.05.14+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi81d5FRCbMH-1b_HFFV7zCZzB7BcfmGTq22UtIs7iDHRa6sWSSQvVaSjRsPSG8_2qulaq0p-sGPg2NXmr_b8CstaY8mSjNywj5CKOQCxGir0dPXzPViYqOSggHCw4RwxIvmW9itOlh9yDW/s400/Screen+Shot+2016-01-28+at+7.05.14+PM.png" width="337" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><b>What you need?</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYhrtwHESWGH8aN8qJv9xjtloYYmKRvvh0hJDsqFPeWJESBtjPxHuKEbzN32ZZEbON7ZWowJT9lp332S8F96Y3PvVZud57bdFolotG51jfkvdRTtki3YAvaUbUCR9swZGOZ1BUx3EDfvY/s1600/IMG_0698.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1509" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYhrtwHESWGH8aN8qJv9xjtloYYmKRvvh0hJDsqFPeWJESBtjPxHuKEbzN32ZZEbON7ZWowJT9lp332S8F96Y3PvVZud57bdFolotG51jfkvdRTtki3YAvaUbUCR9swZGOZ1BUx3EDfvY/s320/IMG_0698.jpg" width="319" /></a></div>
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<ol>
<li><span style="color: #222222;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bobs-Red-Mill-Gluten-24-ounce/dp/B002TXT50W/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1514783576&sr=8-3&keywords=steel%2Bcut%2Boats%2Bbob%27s%2Bred%2Bmill&th=1" target="_blank">Bob's Redmill Steel Cut Oats</a> - 1/2 cup</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/truRoots-Organic-Red-Quinoa-Ounce/dp/B00FPABY0K/ref=sr_1_5?fpw=fresh&keywords=red%2Bquinoa&qid=1563560006&s=gateway&sr=8-5&th=1" target="_blank">Red Quinoa</a> - 1/2 cup</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222;">3 cups of water</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Whole-Earth-Sweetener-Low-Calorie-1-5-pound/dp/B01G3MRTFW/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1514783636&sr=1-2-spons&keywords=whole+earth+sweeteners&psc=1" target="_blank">Whole Earth Stevia/Sugar</a> sweetener - 4 spoons</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222;"> 1% milk - 1 cup ( Condensed Milk 4 tablespoons if you want it to taste like dessert and are not watching calories 😇</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222;">Black Currants, Raisins, Cranberries, Almonds</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222;">Pinch of Saffron</span></li>
</ol>
<div>
<span style="color: blue;"><b>How to make it?</b></span></div>
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<ol>
<li>Add the Oats, Red Quinoa , Water a pinch of salt, the sugar and all the dry fruits and nuts. Put the Instant Pot on Porridge setting and forget about it.</li>
<li>Once done (don't do a quick release) - stir in the condensed milk to taste and then add a pinch of saffron ( or some powdered cardamom)</li>
<li>Enjoy!</li>
</ol>
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
My father had told me something once which I hold close to my heart - <b><i>he had said don't do nothing just because you can't do everything</i></b>...everytime I feel like binging on junk food or feel the ankle ache and decide I want to skip my Zumba/BollyX class...I push myself to do something! 7 pounds down and 5 more to go 💪</div>
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Meenakshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382511200905296310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5446994384974585907.post-38249395564445666992019-06-15T12:35:00.000-07:002019-06-15T12:40:02.126-07:00The AHA Moment!<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><b><i>“I believe that the ability to laugh at oneself is fundamental to the resiliency of the human spirit.” </i></b></span></span></blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxHs0dG17JaE_4tdL6Hc83qzi32knEjD1ORG5fwETTDfBgxgZAr_Ecov0MQ9ia9sESRutgZNYJZu5V9UcHWDWIW4sTlM5iMFKjWQ8YSWg3HslFe8giMHJEg5j04Vx5N_JtFCWeDkUhDmL/s1600/64261783_10155886388436991_3051746268658270208_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxHs0dG17JaE_4tdL6Hc83qzi32knEjD1ORG5fwETTDfBgxgZAr_Ecov0MQ9ia9sESRutgZNYJZu5V9UcHWDWIW4sTlM5iMFKjWQ8YSWg3HslFe8giMHJEg5j04Vx5N_JtFCWeDkUhDmL/s400/64261783_10155886388436991_3051746268658270208_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I will let you on to a secret about me...I suck at parallel parking...so here's how it all played out - I was driving out to a Yelp Elite event in Palo Alto...on a busy road...magically I got a parking right by the restaurant on the street...I tried very hard to parallel park straight but was unsuccessful...so kinda sorta gave up and left my car with it's behind slightly sticking out...there were these bunch of teenagers sitting and drinking boba tea who had this amused look on their faces, I looked at them and then looked at my car and I could have walked away feeling shitty and judged but then I looked at one of them - winked and smiled and said - I sucked at it right! They started laughing with me vs. laughing at me...I left that encounter with a note to myself -<span style="background-color: white;">“<i>What other people think about you has nothing to do with you and everything to do with them. I</i></span><span style="background-color: white;"><i>f I base my self-worth on what everyone else thinks of me, I hand over all my emotions to other people and become dependent on a source outside of myself for validation. Then I wind up chasing after something that I have no control over, and should that something suddenly place its focus somewhere else, or change its mind and decide I am no longer very interesting, I end up with a full-blown identity crisis</i>...SO.NOT.HAPPENING. A true AHA! moment - I am badass and I don't need anyone else to tell me I am badass...</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">While I was having my AHA! moment I was also cooking up a storm - I made my Detox Cabbage Soup and made a south-indian version of my khichdi. It was super yummy and I had it with a karela pickle from the Indian Store ( Grand Sweets and Snacks - Pavakkai Thokku). </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
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<div style="background-color: white;">
<strong><em><span style="font-family: inherit;">South Indian Khichdi - Ven Pongal</span></em></strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJisPoCCAUVOJWJzlNehAGyLR1k7Mx1E9FZDOqgrO7X-J91TiOrSBpoGTTw403ItFxYuMP5lxigU_r8qvpHNdDSjN_K3omFpchJWaO2vBSmGiyWiYwlPIyTsy9PH5cEQCAjWkgPTu8FZqc/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-06-15+at+12.24.34+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="738" data-original-width="1358" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJisPoCCAUVOJWJzlNehAGyLR1k7Mx1E9FZDOqgrO7X-J91TiOrSBpoGTTw403ItFxYuMP5lxigU_r8qvpHNdDSjN_K3omFpchJWaO2vBSmGiyWiYwlPIyTsy9PH5cEQCAjWkgPTu8FZqc/s400/Screen+Shot+2019-06-15+at+12.24.34+PM.png" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What you need</b></span><br />
<ol>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 Cup Quinoa (washed in cold water and soaked with dhuli/skinless moong dal 1/2 hr in hot water I boiled in my electric kettle)</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 cup Dhuli/yellow Moong Dal </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">3 cups water ( I like my Khichdi to have a nice mushy consistency...add lesser water if you want it dry)</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2 tsp Ghee</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Mustard Seeds, cumin seeds, Hing (asafoetida) - I used more than a pinch, Whole Black Pepper (most of it roughly crushed, keep some whole for the garnish), curry leaves, a slight pinch of turmeric (optional)</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> salt to taste</span></li>
</ol>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">To Cook </span></b></div>
<div>
<ol>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Turn on your Instant Pot to Saute. Add your ghee....add hing, cumin seeds and mustard seeds. When they splutter, add turmeric and crushed black pepper and curry leaves.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Add the moong dal and the quinoa to the instant pot and give it a stir </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Add Water </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Put the IP on Rice Mode</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When done open, Natural Release - add salt to taste</span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Enjoy with a pickle, sambar or chutney and remember your awesomeness and don't let it rest on someone else's opinion of you!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></span>Meenakshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382511200905296310noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5446994384974585907.post-2624926454981333302019-06-08T23:18:00.000-07:002019-06-09T19:43:00.979-07:00Evening Routine and a healthy Kheer!<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><i>"It's incredibly liberating to spend some time talking to someone and not caring about what you sound like. It's about understanding myself."</i></b></span></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My evening routine is still work in progress but here's the rough sketch -</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="color: blue;">5.30 PM : </span>Leave Office ( my commute is 28 miles each way - I call up a friend/husband/son on my way back home or do a work call)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue;">6.15 PM : </span> Reach Home and get dinner on the table</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue;">7.00 PM : </span>Done with Dinner<br /><span style="color: blue;">7.15 PM :</span> Leave for the gym for a 7.30 PM Zumba Class ( M, W, F) - if no Zumba then my husband and I walk the dog and watch some TV</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue;">8.45 PM :</span> Get back home</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue;">9.00 PM :</span> Hang out with my son after which he goes to bed</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue;">9.30 PM : </span>Read a book on the kindle, Watch TV or some nights I have a 1 hr Engineering Meeting</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue;">10.45 PM</span>- In Bed, Asleep</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here are some things that I have found help me in my quest for finding grounding and mindfulness in my life :</span><br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">An acceptance that every day will not be equal, some days I will be bone tired and grumpy, other days I will be energized and ecstatic...yet I will treat every day with equanimity and try to get it to a good close</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Eliminate Negativity - I find that when I keep my thought positive, hushing that inner critic, giving my son praises vs. criticism and by practicing gratitude for this wonderful life, I am able to end the day on a high note. I make a mental list of all the awesome things that happened to me that day before I fall asleep (my mental gratitude journal.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do at least one thing you love - I do a LOT of things I love...I dance (I go to Zumba), I spend time with my son and husband by taking a walk with them, I play with the puppy and I read in the evenings...</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Plan for the next day - Nothing is more discouraging than beginning the next day without a plan - I know by the time I go to bed what's for lunch for Krish and me and I have things ready in the kitchen for a quick in and out in the morning. I also plan out my work to-do list for the day in the evening.</span></li>
</ol>
I made a healthy dessert for the boys this evening (yay! for saturdays). It is quick to make this Kheer made with Palua or <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Organic-Arrowroot-Powder-Flour-Resealable/dp/B01BTNDHUQ/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=2HHY7MZ7MDIPD&keywords=arrowroot%2Bpowder&qid=1560060441&s=gateway&sprefix=arrow%2Caps%2C191&sr=8-2-spons&th=1" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Arrowroot</b></span></a>.<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Palua or Arrowroot is a medicinal root found in East India and I got my stock from the Adivasi Mela when I was down in India but you can find it on Amazon too. Palua</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> is nutritive, and is used as an agreeable, non-irritating diet in certain chronic diseases, during convalescence from fevers, in irritations of the digestive and respiratory tract and is well suited for infants - it's jelly has no peculiar taste, and is less liable to become acid in the stomach, and is generally preferred by young infants to all others. It helps with weight loss and heart health.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;"><b>How to make Palua Khiri in your Instant Pot?</b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;"><b>Ingredients</b></span></span><br />
<ul style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">4.5 cups of 1% Organic Milk + 1/2 cup</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">5 tablespoons <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Truvia-Brown-Natural-Stevia-Sweetener/dp/B0771PLNQR/ref=sr_1_11?keywords=truvia&qid=1560060672&s=gateway&sr=8-11&th=1" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Truvia/ Brown Sugar Blend</b></span></a></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Crushed Elaichi (Cardamom)</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1/4-1/2 cup of Palua or <b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Arrowroot-Pounds-Anthonys-Tested-Gluten-Free/dp/B00OJ757SK/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1523742689&sr=1-4&keywords=arrowroot+powder" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Arrowroot Powder</span></a> </span></b>(this thickens the kheer, so add based on how thick you like your kheer)</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">How To?</span></b></span></div>
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<ol>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mix the 1/2 Cup milk with the 1/2 cup of Arrowroot</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Add 4.5 Cups of Milk+ Truvia + Crushed Elaichi plus the slush from step 1 to your Instant Pot</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Set the Instant Pot for Manual 5 minutes (NR)</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Once the pressure has naturally release, open, stir and taste </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you are happy with the sweetness, go ahead and keep in glass/earthen container for it to set ((if not please add more truvia to your taste)</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Once it cools down, you can keep it in the fridge. Garnish with almonds and savor this wonderful dessert</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"> which is actually very good for you!</span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px;">Do you have an evening routine?</span></span></div>
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Meenakshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382511200905296310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5446994384974585907.post-3056623121760464622019-05-30T23:21:00.000-07:002020-01-19T08:42:46.484-08:00What's for Lunch?<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><i><b>“He who every morning plans the transactions of that day and follows that plan carries a thread that will guide him through the labyrinth of the most busy life.” </b></i></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="color: blue;">5.45 AM :</span> Wake up before my alarm goes off, do 5 minutes of pranayam, mental to-do list and top 3 things to get done at work and home.<br />
<span style="color: blue;">6.00 AM :</span> Morning Routine (Lunch Box for kid, Morning snack for kid, empty dishwasher, make tea and pack my own lunch bag, Check Emails/respond to urgent ones )<br />
<span style="color: blue;">7.15 AM :</span> Get ready, motivate kid to get up and get ready<br />
<span style="color: blue;">8.00 AM :</span> Head out, drop kid at school and go to work, either do conference calls or call mom on my way to work<br />
<span style="color: blue;">8.40 AM :</span> Reach work, meetings start...anywhere from 6-9 meetings/day<br />
<span style="color: blue;">10.00 AM :</span> Break my fast and have my ginger tea (I pack it in my lunch bag) with roasted peanuts<br />
<span style="color: blue;">12.30 PM : </span>Run downstairs to move my electric vehicle from it's charging spot in the garage, run back up and heat my Detox Soup and then it's back to meetings<br />
<span style="color: blue;">6.00 PM : </span>Head out home<br />
<span style="color: blue;">7.00 :</span> Dinner on table and eat dinner with family by 7.30-8.00 PM<br />
<span style="color: blue;">8.00-8.30 PM : </span>Walk the dog with the husband and catch up on day<br />
<span style="color: blue;">8.30-9.00 PM :</span> Organize around the house, prep for the morning<br />
<span style="color: blue;">9.00-9.30 PM : </span>Catch up with kid, he goes to sleep<br />
<span style="color: blue;">9.30-10.30 PM : </span>Work<br />
<span style="color: blue;">10.30-11.00 PM : </span>Me time - Read, watch TV and wind down for the day.<br />
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I am not sharing my schedule with you to elicit pity, sympathy or awe...this is what it is right now and it will probably get better over time as I get a handle on my commute (~ 45 mins-1 hr each way) and my work (still new)...it's just to say I understand you are busy but you can still put in some time for exercise, cooking and me-time 😊<br />
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This was today but Monday, Wednesday and Friday I get to squeeze some BollyX/Zumba into the mix and I am grateful that I am able to manage my schedule with work, kid, exercise and a healthy lunch/dinner though it is barely by the skin of my teeth...how do I manage... a big part of it is thanks to my two handy Instant Pots and Mason Jars & <b><span style="color: blue;"> <a href="http://www.farmsteadapp.com/share/mtripathy" target="_blank">Farmstead</a> </span></b> . On weekdays, I order some of my grocery via Farmstead - it's mostly Milk (love their Strauss Milk), Bananas and some of the staple items that I run out during the course of the week and don't have the time to go to the grocery store for. This service lets me get locally sourced organic produce and grocery at a reasonable price with free delivery. How do my IP and mason jars help me - let me show you how.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOyuN41rRIn1W0wBtbRxjXu1d1IjwFaauZj-Zoyluf7XimZAgyt7xGVYZQhRr0CTLNAn2cb06EY81DKfWqc6AcziYP-LeRDSoZZv5Dv8xnYTbmLgmQDETZnzjy7zb0d05210oON8bZ56fy/s1600/IMG_3806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOyuN41rRIn1W0wBtbRxjXu1d1IjwFaauZj-Zoyluf7XimZAgyt7xGVYZQhRr0CTLNAn2cb06EY81DKfWqc6AcziYP-LeRDSoZZv5Dv8xnYTbmLgmQDETZnzjy7zb0d05210oON8bZ56fy/s400/IMG_3806.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><b>High Protein Cabbage Detox Soup</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><b>What you need </b></span></span></div>
<ol style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">1.5 Pounds Chopped Cabbage</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">2 Handfuls Greens (I used Baby Kale)</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Chopped Onions (1 small medium red), 5 cloves of Garlic minced, chopped cilantro/mint - 2-3 handfuls</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Liquid Aminos, Salt to Taste, Turmeric Powder, Black Pepper</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">2 32 Oz Pacific Organic Chicken Bone Broth</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Olive/Avocado Oil</span></li>
</ol>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">To Cook </span></b><br />
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<ol>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Turn on your Instant Pot to Saute. Add the oil and sweat out the onion and garlic</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Add the turmeric powder and the black pepper</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Add the Shredded Cabbage and let it sweat out for 2 minutes</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Add the bone broth, Liquid Am</span>inos or Salt (I added both to taste)</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Turn the instant pot on manual high pressure, NPR 10 minutes</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Add the mint/cilantro and blend to a puree with an immersion mixer (taste test before serving)</span></li>
</ol>
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I took it to work and heated it straight in the mason jar and drank it. This was my quick fix to eating healthy at work and yes it is very hearty and filling. Here's a quick tally in My Fitness Pal of it's nutrition specs per serving - <span style="color: blue;"><b>100 calories, 7 gms carb, 2 grams of fat, 12 gms of protein and 5 gms of Fiber and 4 gms of Sugar</b></span></div>
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I really feel great about my lunches this week :)</div>
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Meenakshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382511200905296310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5446994384974585907.post-32891984311024374072019-05-27T21:42:00.000-07:002019-08-12T20:00:32.539-07:00The Scent of Green Papaya<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Catharsis is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greek" style="text-decoration-line: none;" title="Ancient Greek">Greek</a> word meaning "purification", "purging", "cleansing" or "detoxification"...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I absolutely adore the "Whole Body Cleanse" System and indulge in a semi-annual detox with khichdi, lemon juice and honey and the whole body cleanse for a week...I feel refreshed, renewed and pun unintended "whole" again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The organized me loves even better when I "spring clean"...throwing away things I didn't need that were not usable, donating or selling other stuff and generally cleaning house...I love the feeling of emptiness, organization and space that activity gives me - the busyness of things this year hasn't afforded me the luxury of this activity this year (yet).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR7zpNXEXMwnV4-OULUID7UE7Oz6sUru9BgnTYy3JgvEW3pCNOU9q0H4YKHJJN6VqCfhK026PcBya4eGQDx7D_oPPvZfI3W4jQRxCxkb53v9s9k-c51a-7KA8ZfsjztSEjrQZHoFAbhgQs/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-05-28+at+5.58.10+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="634" data-original-width="1089" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR7zpNXEXMwnV4-OULUID7UE7Oz6sUru9BgnTYy3JgvEW3pCNOU9q0H4YKHJJN6VqCfhK026PcBya4eGQDx7D_oPPvZfI3W4jQRxCxkb53v9s9k-c51a-7KA8ZfsjztSEjrQZHoFAbhgQs/s400/Screen+Shot+2019-05-28+at+5.58.10+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The one thing I haven't been able to do is mentally cleanse my mind of attachments. ...it is very difficult to mentally detach </span>oneself<span style="font-family: inherit;"> from one's ego, thoughts, aspirations, dreams and memories. I take a "baby step" towards cleaning shop - starting with the mind and body</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">...it won't be easy or comfortable but I am definitely welcoming this new challenge.</span></div>
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<strong style="font-family: inherit;"><em><span style="color: blue;">For the body : I have really focused on zero alcohol and no added sugar the past two weeks...my weighing machine has been giving me positive reinforcement the past two weeks too...this to me is also spring cleaning</span></em></strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDxxaTnyqBqo_YmTwdDczdWgny7JMZLYCc1LX5wgYLCExdN8RJyBJZ79qdYeUQFj900-wBAGopEGqiORKkkuo8Yx4UVJwrezA7j7-KpGxw10GZTII8Ab4qRG5z4MKHNZ5YAdGHi-P8ZDXG/s1600/IMG_2221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1189" data-original-width="1600" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDxxaTnyqBqo_YmTwdDczdWgny7JMZLYCc1LX5wgYLCExdN8RJyBJZ79qdYeUQFj900-wBAGopEGqiORKkkuo8Yx4UVJwrezA7j7-KpGxw10GZTII8Ab4qRG5z4MKHNZ5YAdGHi-P8ZDXG/s400/IMG_2221.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<strong style="font-family: inherit;"><em>Detox Khichdi</em></strong></div>
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<strong style="font-family: inherit;"><em><br /></em></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>What you need</b></span></span><br />
<ol>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 Cup Quinoa (washed in cold water and soaked with moong dal 1/2 hr in hot water I boiled in my electric kettle)</span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 cup Moong Dal </span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 cup Peeled & Cubed Green Papaya </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #666666;">3 cups water ( I like my </span><span style="color: #666666;">Khichdi</span><span style="color: #666666;"> to have a nice mushy consistency...add lesser water if you want it dry)</span></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2 tsp Ghee</span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 small knob of ginger, 1 medium chopped tomatoes</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit;">Liquid Aminos (for seasoning), Avocado Oil (or any other oil), cumin seeds, Hing (</span><span style="color: #666666;">asafoetida</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit;">), turmeric powder, black pepper powder, roasted cumin powder</span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 whole lemon and salt to taste</span></li>
</ol>
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<b><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To Cook </span></span></b></div>
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<ol style="color: #666666;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Turn on your Instant Pot to Saute. Add your ghee....add hing, cumin seeds and the roughly chopped ginger and chopped tomatoes. Add turmeric and black pepper powder.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Add the moong dal and the quinoa (and the cut green papaya) to the instant pot and give it a stir </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Add Vegetable Broth/ Water (I added water)</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Put the IP on Rice Mode</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When done open, Natural Release - taste for salt. </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now add fresh lime juice and cut cilantro. </span></li>
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<span style="color: #666666;">Some of you might ask why green papaya - my mother cooked extensively with it. Here are some known health benefits of </span><a href="https://www.msn.com/en-in/health/nutrition/did-you-know-papaya-regulates-menstruation-prevents-arthritis/ar-AABN4G0?ocid=sf" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Green Papaya</span></a></div>
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Now with a clear head and an open heart - enjoy your meal...this truly is catharsis!</div>
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Meenakshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382511200905296310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5446994384974585907.post-48754212189836792932019-04-23T08:10:00.000-07:002019-09-21T14:37:22.722-07:00Finding Courage...<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<strong style="background-color: #fcfcfc; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><i>“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear” </i></span></strong></blockquote>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"> <strong style="background-color: #fcfcfc; box-sizing: border-box;">~Ambrose Redmoon</strong></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8_p4CytmKqoS58_RoGHDNm9Id2GRl26Y1xA-em1keVKf_CGwbyuRsn9z02mUYEF5OcQVwChdwq29iCMmhaPFptgYWajjLCnopv3-OJ2urLKd_yWV7_gXdtfZDLgWBTK-43pJ6JRvU54UA/s1600/58379284_10155778309376991_1532330007773315072_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1080" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8_p4CytmKqoS58_RoGHDNm9Id2GRl26Y1xA-em1keVKf_CGwbyuRsn9z02mUYEF5OcQVwChdwq29iCMmhaPFptgYWajjLCnopv3-OJ2urLKd_yWV7_gXdtfZDLgWBTK-43pJ6JRvU54UA/s400/58379284_10155778309376991_1532330007773315072_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><strong style="background-color: #fcfcfc; box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></strong></span>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><strong style="background-color: #fcfcfc; box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></strong></span><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have had a few turns this week to fight my fears and </span>uncertainties<span style="font-family: inherit;"> both at work and home this past month. It's that fear of letting go of those tiny hands that grasped your hands and tried to walk along side you...and you find out that somewhere along the way, that the little boy is now taller than you, wears a shoe size that is larger than yours and is ready to take a plane ride into the "big unknown" for an even bigger competition. While there is love and pride...it battles for a minute with intense panic. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Two seconds before the start of an important presentation, it almost feels like the butterflies in my stomach would claw their way out...and then everything settles down...hard conversations, the domestic chores, the constant pain in my throat (like I am fighting off a chest infection) and the not-so-domestic chores...everything seems to need more than a little extra TLC this week. I am ready to just lay down and go to sleep...just one more hour but then plough through the day and the week...ironical that I feel down and out just before the most important coming out party for my team...</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When things start to make me feel anxious and overwhelmed here is my little rule book :</span></span><br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Think about the situation in question.</span></li>
<li>Turn your attention inwards—focus on your breath, stop doing what you were doing, and just focus on breathing.</li>
<li>Imagine the situation playing out in your mind with a positive outcome</li>
<li>Now let it happen...let the situation play out!</li>
</ol>
<div>
This week was an interesting one in terms of food - I made the boy <a href="https://randomponderingsofamom.blogspot.com/2018/02/my-beautiful-house.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Matar Paneer </span></a> (yup! the matar paneer was made in my Instant Pot and served with hot Parathas. He looks up with sad eyes and says - Ma! why can't you give me something more yummy like Mac & Cheese (you can't win them all !!!). So last evening, I made an Instant Pot Mac & Cheese for K2(he was licking his plate clean!)<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue;"><b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">Instant Pot Mac & Cheese </b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJoqMIGbpT2OMmQ6jXH9g-Vev1Ukb_kUYASpRsMcvOFuzV7id-c7HAkqKA5GKwkkJfmTIFP7gnVuQ_M4Jg6MNWCbGpv-PavshnNIzhAs7pcIV1BGZfTAEIiT-8eGQ5uRLmpPU1HG1DitEy/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-04-22+at+7.15.51+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1316" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJoqMIGbpT2OMmQ6jXH9g-Vev1Ukb_kUYASpRsMcvOFuzV7id-c7HAkqKA5GKwkkJfmTIFP7gnVuQ_M4Jg6MNWCbGpv-PavshnNIzhAs7pcIV1BGZfTAEIiT-8eGQ5uRLmpPU1HG1DitEy/s400/Screen+Shot+2019-04-22+at+7.15.51+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Ingredients</b></span></span></span><br />
<ul style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Generic Mac & Cheese Box - I used </span> <a href="https://goodcitizens.com/" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Good Citizen</b></span></a></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #666666;">1. 5 tablespoon of </span>Unsalted Butter</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #666666;">1/3 Cup of </span><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">Milk</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">1/2 cup of grated sharp cheddar </span></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"> water (as per directions in the box, it was 4 cups on mine)</li>
</ul>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">How To?</span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">
<ol>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Turn the Instant Pot on</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pour the mac and cheese pasta and water into the pot. </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">High Pressure 3 minutes with quick release</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Drain out the excess water</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Put the IP on Saute...add in the butter and the milk and the sauce/cheese mix and whisk briskly till the sauce/cheese mix is incorporated</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Now add the extra cheese and let it melt</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Serve hot to a hungry kid.</li>
</ol>
</div>
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I want to leave you with a thought for this week <i><span style="color: blue;">"sometimes courage does not roar, sometimes courage is that quiet voice inside you which after a long hard particularly exhausting day, tells you quietly - never mind, let's try again tomorrow"</span></i></div>
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Meenakshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382511200905296310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5446994384974585907.post-21983241078405770072019-03-10T18:03:00.001-07:002019-03-11T08:14:04.134-07:00The Gifts of Imperfection & A Perfect Kheer<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><i><b>“Perfectionism is a self destructive and addictive belief system that fuels this primary thought: If I look perfect, and do everything perfectly, I can avoid or minimize the painful feelings of shame, judgment, and blame.”</b></i></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Brené Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">I spent a better half of my Zumba class this morning beating myself up for wearing an </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">XS</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"> pant...telling myself I didn't fit...</span><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">"S" </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">was my size and I looked terrible...then 20 minutes into that mental beating, I told myself I needed to focus on the awesome music, sweat it out and feel gratitude...gratitude for losing weight and keeping it off for over 6 years...and that is just what I did.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0kk9t_3d8cmaeB1r2GJ_PGL5hsgHc6EvmyV9Q8UKMhd4lHWL7glHkY4wnsguOM_M5ACW-y4Hbih4IaRU5PPovfYsI4zZ-bT7ukx2LcpT5j7FB5zBrzNKvPNF5BdRLX2qFr9nDkV4mgM7/s1600/IMG_0371.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1254" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0kk9t_3d8cmaeB1r2GJ_PGL5hsgHc6EvmyV9Q8UKMhd4lHWL7glHkY4wnsguOM_M5ACW-y4Hbih4IaRU5PPovfYsI4zZ-bT7ukx2LcpT5j7FB5zBrzNKvPNF5BdRLX2qFr9nDkV4mgM7/s400/IMG_0371.jpg" width="312" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">When I came home my son asked for a dessert...so as all moms do I invented a healthy recipe on the fly...it turned out so delicious that I had to share...</span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Badam Phirni ( High Protein, Low Sugar)</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Rocxm3I4m2cMAi7bFWjg0mvJfiexnd9AxtmiW4am8xXoB3AJiV66cJtLpqbkay6fUTGL_OWDqPYgNyHqRytjyiDB9841FzIzm-lPCL_mu2yG5E7FmBtDbHffiJGVFlMBKBvrYdyTdqXK/s1600/IMG_0151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1465" data-original-width="1600" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Rocxm3I4m2cMAi7bFWjg0mvJfiexnd9AxtmiW4am8xXoB3AJiV66cJtLpqbkay6fUTGL_OWDqPYgNyHqRytjyiDB9841FzIzm-lPCL_mu2yG5E7FmBtDbHffiJGVFlMBKBvrYdyTdqXK/s400/IMG_0151.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue; font-weight: 400;"><b>Ingredients</b></span></span></span><br />
<ul style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">4 cups of 2% Organic Milk </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1/2 Cup of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Truvia-Brown-Natural-Stevia-Sweetener/dp/B0771PLNQR/ref=sr_1_9?keywords=truvia&qid=1552263494&s=grocery&sr=1-9&th=1" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Truvia Blend</span></a></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1/4 Cup of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06Y6HB4L4/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Almond Flour</span></a></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1/6 Cup Basmati Rice (soaked in hot water 1/2 hour and coarsely ground)</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Crushed Cardamon Powder</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 tablespoon Ghee</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1/2 cup of water</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">How To?</span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<ol>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Turn the Instant Pot to Saute</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Add the ghee - gently saute the ground rice and the ground almond flour for a minute</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Add 1/2 cup of water + 1/2 cup of truvia blend </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Add 4 Cups of Milk+ Crushed Elaichi (follow this order for adding the ingredients)</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Set the Instant Pot for Automatic Rice Mode</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Once the pressure has naturally release, open, stir and taste </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you are happy with the sweetness, go ahead and keep in glass/earthen container for it to set ((if not please add either sugar, stevia or other sweeteners of choice to your taste)</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Once it cools down, you can keep it in the fridge. Garnish with saffron or almond flakes and savor it. </span></li>
</ol>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I want to leave you with words from a <span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://randomponderingsofamom.blogspot.com/2013/11/i-am-enough.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">book</span></a> </span>which has had a huge impact on me, that I read years back- <b><i><span style="color: blue;">“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”</span></i></b></span></div>
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Meenakshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382511200905296310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5446994384974585907.post-57555454447750861852019-01-20T21:30:00.001-08:002019-01-20T21:30:21.645-08:00Rainy Days and Mondays...<div jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.24; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><i>Talkin' to myself and feelin' old</i></span></div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><i><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sometimes I'd like to quit</span></div>
<span jsname="YS01Ge"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Nothin' ever seems to fit</span></div>
</span><span jsname="YS01Ge"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hangin' around</span></div>
</span><span jsname="YS01Ge"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Nothin' to do but frown</span></div>
</span><span jsname="YS01Ge"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Rainy days and Mondays always get me down</span></div>
</span></i></span></div>
<div jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.24; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><i>What I've got they used to call the blues</i></span></div>
<div style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Nothin' is really wrong</span></div>
<span jsname="YS01Ge" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Feelin' like I don't belong</span></div>
</span><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Walkin' around</span></div>
</span><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Some kind of lonely clown</span></div>
</span><span jsname="YS01Ge"><div style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Rainy days and Mondays always get me down</span></div>
<div style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">--The Carpenters</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2o6vOZYSIi8GrhdW1lxOcu5_lrBSy4MgQVPIIJyNv8wr6iGK0fySww6yIfJDKsE9UmfzBfYb3CeZeJlpUsY-TXRQgnhS_g_0gEaFEYjHt9qXRUG2K_zd5pP5q3F1uwQL9vUuGkWwuF03/s1600/IMG_3922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="1600" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2o6vOZYSIi8GrhdW1lxOcu5_lrBSy4MgQVPIIJyNv8wr6iGK0fySww6yIfJDKsE9UmfzBfYb3CeZeJlpUsY-TXRQgnhS_g_0gEaFEYjHt9qXRUG2K_zd5pP5q3F1uwQL9vUuGkWwuF03/s400/IMG_3922.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I think I have made this confession multiple times...I am "solar operated" - when the sun is out bright & sunny my outlook is bright and sunny...the last few weeks have been blah! with rains and gusts and fallen trees...Saturday was a beautiful sunny day and Sunday was again windy and rainy...however, I decided to make the trek out to the Farmer's market - haven't been out in a while now and met up with some of the vendors there...that's my happy place ( I have some other's like playing Trivial Pursuit with K2, or Zumba at Crunch or ahem! Pokemon in the park but then I digress.... ). I came back home with a whole bag of goodies and did my meal planning for this week. Huge batch of soup, Mushroom Subzi ( with the organic white mushrooms from Costco and red onions), Anda Curry - should last us through Wednesday...and if I made it through Wednesday, then I made it through the week . For the soup this week , I made a detoxifying soup with Organic Power Greens and a huge bulb of fennel and cleansing organic Cilantro (the latter two from the farmer's market) - this will last me for power lunches in this week as I power through a medley of meetings...did I tell you I have lost 4 lbs since the beginning of the year (without really trying to diet 😉)</span></div>
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<b style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">High Protein Cleansing Power Lunch</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht13_2ZFboEqwQDMorDF37swK3tBulXPwK_vjl1QnP_6h_Plr5ZlDv7gpP07YGeM2siQ17omPcAzIk-b-KGx_3VAOAAVoiEDX5QUPmSR65eN70OUAwl_cctCWDL2paDtHmvLJHP2x7PXuq/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-01-20+at+7.42.52+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="900" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht13_2ZFboEqwQDMorDF37swK3tBulXPwK_vjl1QnP_6h_Plr5ZlDv7gpP07YGeM2siQ17omPcAzIk-b-KGx_3VAOAAVoiEDX5QUPmSR65eN70OUAwl_cctCWDL2paDtHmvLJHP2x7PXuq/s400/Screen+Shot+2019-01-20+at+7.42.52+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">What you need </span></b></div>
<ol style="font-family: inherit;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2 Containers - Organic Earthbound Powergreens</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 big Bulb Fennels</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 bag of baby Carrots (Trader Joe's)</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Chopped Onions (1 small medium red), 5 cloves of Garlic minced, chopped cilantro/mint - 2 handfuls</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Liquid Aminos, Salt to Taste</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2 32 Oz Pacific Organic Chicken Bone Broth</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Olive/Avocado Oil</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><b>To Cook </b></span><div>
<ol style="font-family: inherit;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Turn on your Instant Pot to Saute. Add the oil and sweat out the chopped Fennel Bulb onion and garlic</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Add the carrots and greens (cook for 2-3 minutes)</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Add the bone broth, Liquid Aminos or Salt (I added both to taste)</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Turn the instant pot on manual high pressure, NPR 15 minutes</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Add the cilantro/mint and blend to a puree with an immersion mixer (taste test before serving)</span></li>
</ol>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Dolly Parton was definitely on to something when she said - <b><i><span style="color: blue;">The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain. </span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">I saw two beautiful rainbows on my way back home from the Farmer's Market 😃...it's back to work Monday while the boys relax at home for MLK. Hope you are enjoying your long weekend.</span></div>
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Meenakshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382511200905296310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5446994384974585907.post-19109411889006576242018-12-19T05:04:00.000-08:002019-01-10T19:25:39.978-08:00Tentative Parenting : Building Resilience<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b><i>"Success is not final, Failure is not fatal : it is the courage to continue that counts"</i></b></span></div>
<span style="color: blue;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjftArZ1d85IfjNur9BTJfE0uQSozUtf75vy2QKXzr-GKIpVetlbzZucOr5dvgzDNj7-rGyyMHmLcx5s64M6WAmD6VAc3ASvZCeUvwnooelX5_SHzI4iRM1YB6E8oEcGDNQ3ug24bGtacOs/s1600/IMG_3488.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1336" data-original-width="1600" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjftArZ1d85IfjNur9BTJfE0uQSozUtf75vy2QKXzr-GKIpVetlbzZucOr5dvgzDNj7-rGyyMHmLcx5s64M6WAmD6VAc3ASvZCeUvwnooelX5_SHzI4iRM1YB6E8oEcGDNQ3ug24bGtacOs/s400/IMG_3488.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">K2 with his Robotics team, they qualified for State already</span> 💪</span></div>
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K2 has been driving himself hard - from full days at theater where he played the lead (we finished the season to rapturous applauses and a massively sold out show...so to say I am proud is an understatement!), to basketball, violin, robotics and national geographic tournaments...I keep reminding him to pace himself yet I see him on the go at all times at school and activities...and then he comes home and it's zombie time. So a lot of our arguments and discussions have been around - it's ok to scale down...I would much rather you be happy and healthy with just the right degree of extra-curricular activities (doing your chores at home like walking the puppy) vs. pushing yourself (yeah...not a tiger mom me)...the reality is I would rather he take the time to smell the roses, take a walk out in the bay and just live life a little bit fuller...bottom line is once you start working, get married, have kids and have some sort of a career...life automatically becomes full.<br />
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Yet, K2 seems happy with his rather full schedule and with my rather full schedule these past two months I am too scared that he will soon say - <span style="color: blue;"><i>Ma, it's like the pot calling the kettle black</i> 😧</span>...anyhoo with all these mental travails and my lingering cough the past 5 weeks, I am exhausted and can't wait for the winter break : time for elaichi (cardamom) chai , long walks with the puppy, DVRed shows, good take-out food and warm cozy soups/stews in my Instant Pot...just one more trip to get through this week in Iowa...(yeah yeah! don't do the <b>really Iowa</b> thing on me...it's <b>beautiful</b>). I am in love with the beautiful "Women of Achievement Bridge" which honored the women in Iowa who paved the way...it's another story that I corralled my colleagues on this little adventure with me (their smiles of tolerance said a lot 😇)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JQpWgPjuKSbSLQpfyhuMdO6h9k5Qv8zVzqaQmoDRMJ_qV60uCHIclr4asobQ3VI6KdXZKxZXqNfE-lhfeJBV9kd7z0nFao-4GBTNoKUoIMnL3XmihmUjcOi9gHgb6xFuVrdsb_ONSNGu/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-12-18+at+9.38.42+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1600" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JQpWgPjuKSbSLQpfyhuMdO6h9k5Qv8zVzqaQmoDRMJ_qV60uCHIclr4asobQ3VI6KdXZKxZXqNfE-lhfeJBV9kd7z0nFao-4GBTNoKUoIMnL3XmihmUjcOi9gHgb6xFuVrdsb_ONSNGu/s400/Screen+Shot+2018-12-18+at+9.38.42+AM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span aria-live="polite" class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" style="background-color: white; display: inline; line-height: 18px; outline: none; width: auto;" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #1c1e21;"> </span><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">Iowa Women of Achievement Bridge</span></span></span><span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList" style="background-color: white; display: inline; line-height: 18px;"><span class="fcg"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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I cooked for K1 and K2 and they have Mushroom Curry and Kheema Matar to keep them company while I am out and about in Iowa. My Kheema Matar (and I am not one for rhapsodies) is a work of art - took me less than 10 minutes to put together and there is enough to last them 3 meals ( my secret weapon - I stuff Kheema Matar in a whole wheat sourdough sandwich with some chopped onions, tomatoes and cheese...and pack a fancy panini for K2 for his lunch box, I also add it inside a puff pastry to make chicken puff...easy stuff that makes you look pretty spiffy!)<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Chicken Kheema Matar</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAbNpDbtyzsa7kAVp6WanGGlkxerI15e_micDE72lVEahW0uk5l68m6yJJakBFaV-9J8pT4-3hAf82fjuZlDLI2zUYs7ne1l3BfHZu2pMuWyMjkWZl47U_JzeyYdcCK0_su3Pv0WuOIOh6/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-12-18+at+8.50.48+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="704" data-original-width="980" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAbNpDbtyzsa7kAVp6WanGGlkxerI15e_micDE72lVEahW0uk5l68m6yJJakBFaV-9J8pT4-3hAf82fjuZlDLI2zUYs7ne1l3BfHZu2pMuWyMjkWZl47U_JzeyYdcCK0_su3Pv0WuOIOh6/s400/Screen+Shot+2018-12-18+at+8.50.48+AM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>What's in it?</b></span></span></div>
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<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">1.5 lb Ground Organic Chicken Breast (Whole Foods Pro Tip - Boneless Skinless Chicken breast was on Sale and I had them grind that for me vs. buying the pre-ground meat - saved me $4/pound)</li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">1 bag of Organic Petite Peas (365 Brand)</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #666666;">4 Oz </span><a href="https://randomponderingsofamom.blogspot.com/2018/01/he-saysshe-says.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Bhuna Masala</span></a><span style="color: #666666;"> ( click the link for how to make it!)</span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Whole Spices : Cumin, Red Chilli, Crushed whole cardamom, Cinnamon Stick</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=shan+keema+masala+recipe&oq=shaan+kheema+mas&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0l5.7258j1j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Shaan Kheema Masala</span></a></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Salt, Tomato Ketchup, Cinnamon Powder (to taste)</li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">1/4 cup of water</li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">1 tbspoon Avocado/Olive/Canola Oil</li>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">How I made it?</span></b></div>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Put the IP on Saute Mode, Keep the frozen peas on the side to thaw</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Add the Olive Oil, till there is a shimmer, add the whole spices and let them blossom in the hot oil</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now add the bhuna masala, the Shaan Kheema Masala (I used 2 spoons) and the ground chicken- saute for 2-3 minutes</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you need more liquid add the 1/4 cup water/ stock</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Put the IP on Manual High Pressure for 5 minutes, No Release</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When you open the IP, turn the IP to Saute and add in the peas - saute for 2-3 minutes till the peas and warmed through and mixed into the meat mixture (and some of the liquid evaporates)</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now add Salt, tomato ketchup and Cinnamon Powder to taste </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Garnish with Cilantro or as I did with the red chilli (we didn't eat those!) and enjoy with Roti or Pav/Bread.</span></li>
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<span style="color: #666666;">I wanted to leave you with a saying my father always shared with me :</span><i> <span style="color: blue;">I want to be that person that you look up to - the person you think of when you think of the word "Bapa" or "Integrity" and "Love".</span> </i><span style="color: #666666;">I lost him 5 years back but I sure do think of him anytime someone mentions parents or role models - he was mine.</span></div>
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<br />Meenakshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382511200905296310noreply@blogger.com0