Tentative Parenting : Building Resilience

"Success is not final, Failure is not fatal : it is the courage to continue that counts"

               K2 with his Robotics team, they qualified for State already 💪

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.

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 - Ma, it's like the pot calling the kettle black 😧...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 really Iowa thing on me...it's beautiful). 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 😇)

        Iowa Women of Achievement Bridge 

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!)

Chicken Kheema Matar

What's in it?

• 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)
• 1 bag of Organic Petite Peas (365 Brand)
• 4 Oz Bhuna Masala ( click the link for how to make it!)
• Whole Spices : Cumin, Red Chilli, Crushed whole cardamom, Cinnamon Stick
• Shaan Kheema Masala
• Salt, Tomato Ketchup, Cinnamon Powder (to taste)
• 1/4 cup of water
• 1 tbspoon Avocado/Olive/Canola Oil

How I made it?

• Put the IP on Saute Mode, Keep the frozen peas on the side to thaw
• Add the Olive Oil, till there is a shimmer, add the whole spices and let them blossom in the hot oil
• Now add the bhuna masala, the Shaan Kheema Masala (I used 2 spoons) and the ground chicken- saute for 2-3 minutes
• If you need more liquid add the 1/4 cup water/ stock
• Put the IP on Manual High Pressure for 5 minutes, No Release
• 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)
• Now add Salt, tomato ketchup and Cinnamon Powder to taste 
• Garnish with Cilantro or as I did with the red chilli (we didn't eat those!) and enjoy with Roti or Pav/Bread.

I wanted to leave you with a saying my father always shared with me : 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". I lost him 5 years back but I sure do think of him anytime someone mentions parents or role models - he was mine.

Feeling Thankful

"Feeling Thankful and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it"

This week I wrote something that will show up in my son's theater program flyer to  support our 12 yr old in his first theatrical venture - my son took his proverbial "leap of faith" in September. Here's what I wrote for him :

Dear K2, 

Close your eyes.Soar up high.Feel the vast, cloudy skies. 
Let the fear go, Set it free.Fly your way to confidence and success.
Spread your wings.Start to sing.Dance like you were meant to...
When you are on the stage, You have already won, Our hearts, soul and happiness.
                               Love, Mumma & Daddy

We are really looking forward to his theater show next week! And we are hoping all goes well with it.

We had a quiet "Turkey Day" at home this year - I am still recovering from my laryngitis which has become a full-blown sinus infection, so I got out the big guns - Antibiotics 😟😟😟 But staying home with the boys was nice - I binge watched Flash (all done with Season 4), watched a couple movies I wanted to catch up on, went to Zumba classes and cooked some. We didn't roast a turkey but I did make a turkey dish in my Instant Pot that turned out amazing!

Kheema Cholay

What's in it?

• 1 lb Ground Organic Turkey (Whole Foods)
• 2 cans  of Organic Garbanzo Beans
• 4 Oz Bhuna Masala ( click the link for how to make it!)
• Minced Garlic
• Shaan Murg Cholay Masala (1/2 Packet)
• Salt, Cinnamon Powder, Tomato Sauce (to taste)
• Cilantro to Garnish
• 1/4 cup of water
• 1 tbspoon Olive Oil

How I made it?

• Put the IP on Saute Mode 
• Add the Olive Oil, till there is a shimmer, now add the minced garlic and the ground turkey - saute for 2 minutes
• Add the 2 cans of Garbanzo beans ( washed) and the Bhuna masala. Mix and saute for another 2 minutes. If you need more liquid add the 1/4 cup water
• Put the IP on Manual High Pressure for 5 minutes, No Release
• When you open the IP, Mix and add Salt, tomato sauce and Cinnamon Powder to taste 
• Garnish with Cilantro and enjoy with Roti or Pav - super yum!

Lost my Voice...found my mind!

Northern California now has the worst air quality in the world, thanks to wildfire smoke...My heart goes out to all the families in our area with losses.

Last Friday the smoke in the air gave me the worst throat ache and I haven't been able to talk for a week. It has gotten worse due to the cold and the persisting smoke in the air. 

Yet losing my voice in the past week has been a wake up call of sorts for me - a time for me to shut up and listen (listen to others and my inner voice...no no not the critical one, the other one!) - Quieten the monkey chatter in my head and put the fears to rest...and listen to that "little" voice which is trying to make sense of all this nonsense. This article by Beth Comstock (CMO, GE) helped me at work quite a bit...I had the luxury of not talking and listening more...it gave me a different perspective which was refreshing. True that she said : My lesson: Soaking up a conversation shouldn’t be a luxury. Stop, listen, ask.

I also focused on the task of getting better and for that I turned to my handy dandy Instant Pot and made a - mixed vegetable sweet corn soup.

What's in it?

• I used pre-chopped vegetables -  1 big bag of frozen vegetables from Whole Foods (use the one you fancy...I got the one with peas, carrots, corn, beans...)
• 1 can of creamed corn
• 2 32 Oz of Chicken Bone Broth
• Grated Ginger (small knob)
• Water - 2 Quarts 
• Bragg's Liquid Amino
• Worcestershire Sauce (to taste ~ 1 tbsp)
• Salt and Pepper to Taste
• Chopped Spring Onion Stalk for Garnish

How I made it?

• Put all the ingredients above in the Instant Pot (except the salt and pepper)
• Manual on 5  minutes (no release)
• Stir...add Salt & Pepper to taste
• Garnish with Chopped Spring Onion Stalk ( I had it at home almost close to wilting, so was happy to use it)
• Sit Back - Turn on the TV or pick your favorite book and ENJOY!

Servings

This is about 8 servings. 

This soup  has < 150 calories and > 6 grams of Fiber and about 10 grams of protein.  True is the saying  "Soup is Cozy"

Will not go hungry...High Protein Detox Soup

"Life will only change when you become more committed to your dreams than you are to your comfort zone."

I loved my life a month back...very set hours at work, work that I could complete in my sleep, leisurely chai breaks and gym time...and yet there was a part of me that was craving more excitement work wise...so I made the decision to move to an exciting new role in a new company. In the past month I have been thrown way out of my comfort zone...learning a few areas of work that are new to me, new product launches , customer meetings... meetings galore...sure I got the excitement I craved but with it the time I got to myself this month has shrunk to non-existence...I haven't done much with the instant pot but the quick and dirty...steel cut oats, dal, channa masala...and truthfully there have been many days when I have been so exhausted that we have survived on Pizza, Take-Out and cereal...

I am a strong proponent of "you are what you eat" -- so this weekend I told myself enough was enough and I cooked myself a huge batch of "High Protein Detox Soup" - I am having this for lunch most days of this week and I am definitely feeling a lot better about getting my greens and protein. My recipe calls for "Chicken Bone Broth" but if you are vegetarian you might consider adding peanut powder 

High Protein Detox Soup

What you need 

1. 2 Containers - Organic Earthbound Powergreens
2. 1 bag of cut cauliflower florets (Trader Joe's)
3. 1 bag of baby Carrots (Trader Joe's)
4. Chopped Onions (1 small medium red), 5 cloves of Garlic minced, chopped cilantro/mint - 2 handfuls
5. Liquid Aminos, Salt to Taste
6. 2 32 Oz Pacific Organic Chicken Bone Broth
7. Olive/Avocado Oil

To Cook 

1. Turn on your Instant Pot to Saute. Add the oil and sweat out the onion and garlic
2. Add the cauliflower, carrots and greens (cook for 2-3 minutes)
3. Add the bone broth, Liquid Aminos or Salt (I added both to taste)
4. Turn the instant pot on manual high pressure,  NPR 15 minutes
5. Add the mint and blend to a puree with an immersion mixer (taste test before serving)

For the first time I served it to the family I garnished with roasted pine-nuts and baked kale but when I took it to work I heated it straight in the mason jar and drank it. Here's a quick tally in My Fitness Pal of it's nutrition specs per serving - 100 calories, 7 gms carb, 2 grams of fat, 12 gms of protein and 5 gms of Fiber and 4 gms of Sugar

I really feel great about my lunches this week :)

How is your week playing out?

Hasta Luego Baby!

“The world is round and the place which may seem like the end, may also be the beginning.”

Seems only like yesterday...

The first foggy morning,

A warm cup of chai in Cafe 300

An awesome boss who took me into an awesome office,

A room with a view,

Commute - umm what's that?

I fell hook, line and sinker,
It wasn't just the office,

It was the people in it...

Like a warm blanket

The next boss really showed me,

The future is female,

The power of using my own voice,

Giving...

Many a lessons learnt in the last few years,

Some in the office, some with customers  

Most with these informal friends I made,

Over my blog, chai or a BollyX Class.

I will miss you,

But the world is round...

What seems like an end is really a beginning!

So I won't say Good Bye...I will say "see you later"

Hasta Luego till we meet again!

Stay in touch with me on LinkedIn, my facebook page or email

Tentative Parenting : Leap of Faith

" Sometimes all you got to do is take a deep long breath, close your eyes and  take that leap of faith... p.s : keep your fingers crossed at the back that everything works out" 
                                           ---Meenakshi

                                                                                               

                            Photo Credit : Aman Barboza, Venue : Oracle Corporation

My son taught me a lesson this week - in 7th grade at the ripe age of 11 he auditioned for a role in the school play for the first time...for a boy who never sings or dances...he showed remarkable grace and fortitude. Sometimes the toughest part about a new journey - is the beginning. There is a little inner voice telling us how comfortable we are with status quo, telling us we are not ready or capable or is the risk even worth it...so we keep grinding away living a life other than the one we dared to dream about.

So K2's audition ended with him finding his "magic lamp"...he is Aladdin in their school play...my search for the magic lamp begins next month as I take my "leap of faith".

In our current world which is "turning tides" and where women are finally beginning to move beyond "could have, should have, would have"...drop those mental shackles and take that leap of faith...at the end of it all - we end up with two life lists : All the things that we did and all the things that we "wish" we had done. 

Get cracking on that first list...I am right with you!

p.s : if you came to my blog looking for an instant pot recipe - have you tried my berry jam yet - it is delicious and takes literally 5 minutes to make :-)

Change is inevitable...

"Change is inevitable, Growth is Optional"

I love my life, am grateful for my friends and support system, love the beautiful office I work in (zero commute! yes baby!)  and just adore the lakes by my house and the beautiful walks I take around it with my two boys and puppy. My Saturday's for the past year have been pretty set - Get up, put the steel-cut oats in the Instant Pot and then rush to my BollyX class, come back home and cook lunch (or go out to eat). This Saturday, it felt like I was ready for some change from my routine of getting up just in time, throwing the oats in the instant pot, walking the puppy and coming in late for my BollyX class...so here's what I did ... (I was still late for my class 😐)

I had been stewing for a couple days over the beautiful organic berries in my fridge that weren't getting eaten (blackberries and strawberries in case you were wondering). So I got up early in the morning and in the time that it took me to chat with my Ma in India, I made a Berry Jam in my Instant Pot - it's scrumptious and very little work. I also made some protein packed muffins for the boys to have with the berry jam & then went to my BollyX class - change in my routine felt good...now let me start thinking about what other aspect of my life could use a face-lift....Hmmm!

Berrylicious Jam (3 ingredients)

What you need 

1. 1 lb Strawberries, 1 lb Blackberries (mix with the sugar/stevia blend and keep on the side for 20 minutes to let it macerate
2. 1 Lemon
3. 2-3 Tablespoons Truvia Brown Sugar/Stevia Blend Mix ( ~ 15 calories per tablespoons) 

To Cook 

1. Turn on your Instant Pot to Saute. Add the mix of the berries+sugar/stevia. Saute for 5-6 minutes. Squeeze in the Lemon Juice.
2. Now turn the Instant Pot on Manual High Pressure for 3 minutes, NR
3. After about 10 minutes, store or eat.

How is your weekend playing out?