I am seeing and reading a lot of critical reviews about Slumdog Millionaire the movie esp. from Indian movie directors .I have not yet got the opportunity to see the movie but whatever reviews I have read it is definitely an eye opener ...We as Indians why are we trying to SHY away from our relaities.Lets face them and try to resolve the issues around poverty and illiteracy which is glooming predominantly around India .I keep asking myself me as an individual what am I doing to contribute little to my country and the answer is nothing! It is disappointing and depressing that I am so much involved and only worried about my own needs that I don’t want to look beyond. I am sure movies like these have positive and negative reactions. For example: People around the world might come forward to help the poor in India in their own ways....but I read in the news yesterday that some tour guides in India re conducting slum tours for less than $10 for each tourist ..That is ridiculous lets not make a mockery out of somebody else’s living and lifestyle. End of the we need to remember that movies are not 100 % reality they are fiction and make belief..........
That’s my thought for the day......
Friday, February 6, 2009
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Why can't they have Daycare centers at work?
My new office is in a swanky new Tech.Park in Bangalore city, India which is really great. But as a mother of a 30 month old child I wonder and worry about my child. She is too young to be left the entire day at a daycare which is around 13 Miles from my work place.
Why cannot work places come up with child care facilities?
I really wish I have the determination and time to start one but I am not made for that business.
If companies today want to employee and encourage women to work then they should help them do so. I cannot believe that big MNC's do not care much for this part of their employees.
I am sure there are Millions of mothers out there with the same problem and trying to find a solution. The least an employer cam do is help them facilitate Child care facilities (of course at a price)..I do these women who work in India at construction sites doing hard labor jobs for a meager amount with their children running around. I think they are luckier than me :)I envy her..
Well I am hoping to find a solution to this soon like all other mothers out there!!
Why cannot work places come up with child care facilities?
I really wish I have the determination and time to start one but I am not made for that business.
If companies today want to employee and encourage women to work then they should help them do so. I cannot believe that big MNC's do not care much for this part of their employees.
I am sure there are Millions of mothers out there with the same problem and trying to find a solution. The least an employer cam do is help them facilitate Child care facilities (of course at a price)..I do these women who work in India at construction sites doing hard labor jobs for a meager amount with their children running around. I think they are luckier than me :)I envy her..
Well I am hoping to find a solution to this soon like all other mothers out there!!
Ideas Galore!!
This idea has been in my mind last few years …. why can't they invent or manufacture key boards which can be locked (keypad locks) like cell phones.. Probably one doesn't realize the need till you have a toddler at home trying to fiddle with your laptop when you her/him unattended for a few seconds. It is so amazing that kids need just couple of seconds to mess up your laptop keys :) Very talented & efficient... I have the letters “K” & “L” missing and now I have become an expert typing at the vacuum holes ..Also they should come up with glow key boards I have conf. calls late my time (IST) with my team in the US and I am either doing a typo or trying to strain my eyes in the dim light trying to type to my manager in IM... Yes, I have a solution of having a Table Lamp but just to make life easier why cant they come up with glow boards .. Maybe someday they will and I will get patent for giving these ideas and I become a Millionaire :) Ha!! big dreams . That’s all for today I am having thoughts in my mind which i have been wanting to pen or type to be more precise but not finding time From now a on I think I need this medium of outlet to express my thoughts in my BLOG Though my entire family -esp. hubby dear is excellent with words and vocabulary unfortunately nobody blogs or write, so In order to compensate I created this blog and want to keep posting my thoughts..I know it might sounds boring at times :)...
What I have been upto lately!!
Hi All, No excuse for not being able to post for a long time :( I took up a new job with loads of excitement since it involves working from home which is a boon for any mother .But I do realize with time that it is a challenge to work from home. Once requires discipline and dedication to succeed...coz you are always tryign to balance between work and family. It has been a roller coaster ride last 3.5 months and I miss the relaxed lazy afternoon days where I would watch TV and reading a book. Well it is my doing and cannot blame anyone :) But no regrets I am happy just trying to juggle between work and family and trying my level best to do justice to both.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Kozhukattai recipe - Sweet & Salt
Hi All,
I am a great GANESHA devotee and every now and then I try bribing Him with kozhukattais!!
Though I have tried and tested various recipes for making Kozhukattai's , my Mom-in-law's is fool proof. She is an excellent chef and a wonderful home maker. Since my husband and Dad-in-law are great foodies and enjoy good variety food we women folk are always trying out new recipes all the time to please their gastronomical needs...
The success formula of my Mom's (MIL) cooking according to my Dad (DIL) is a potion of TLC (Tender Love & Care) which is added to the ingredients !!
My Mom's small tips have helped me learn a lot and avoid wastage !!
Here goes the Kozhakattai recipe...
Ingredients:Filling/Poornam # 1 : coconut poornam1 cup - Coconut, grated 1 ½ cup -Jaggery (2 if you want it even sweeter,I prefer 2)4-5 nos - Elaichi/Cardamom ** There is also another filling made out of Til (Seaseme seeds pwder) I am not too sure how to make it :(
Filling/Poornam # 2 : Uppu poornam (Salted)
50 Gms Urad dal (Whole or broken) ( for some 15 no's)
Salt to taste
Green chillies - 2
Ginger - grated ( Little)
Mustard seeds
Asefoetida” (Heeng) powder / Whole
Curry leaves
Method:
Soak the urad dal for 30 mins.
Grind Ginger, Greean chilles and the dal together coarsely in the mixer like a dough .(Do not add water too much ).
Steam this paste in pressure cooker or steamer for 15 - 20 mins.
Heat coconut oil (pref.) in a pan .
Add mustard seeds, one it splutters add Heeng and the steamed paste .
Add salt.
Mix it well and garnish with chopped curry leaves.
Once it cools it can be used a filling
For the dough:1 cup -Rice flour 2 cups - Water pinch of salt ½ tsp - Oil ( preferably sesame seed/gingili oil)Procedure:Coconut Poornam:Freshly grated coconut is the best for making the coconut filling. Take a wide pan and first add the jaggery with little water and keep the gas in low flame .Once the jaggery dissolves switch the gas and strain it and clean the pan .( Jaggery tends to accumulate dirt and stones sometimes,so it is better to be cautious as you dont want to be chewing small hillocks !!!) Again reheat the pan and add the strained jaggery solution now toss in the coconut and stir till the mixture thickens and starts leaving the sides of the pan. Add the elaichi powder and stir for another half a minute. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and allow it to cool. Freshly grated coconut gives this filling its best taste.
You can add a teaspoon of ghee to give it a better taste and to avoid the filling from sticking to the pan .(Optional)Dough: In a kadai/vessel bring two cups of water to a boil, add a pinch of salt and 3-4 drops of oil to the water. Once the water comes to a boil, gradually add the rice flour. Hold the end of the ladle( reverse) in the center of the vessel while adding the flour and then stir continuously for 3 mins on a low flame and then turn off the heat. Try using the end of the laddle than the mout like a stick and keep mixing / stirring the flour in the water.(This will prevent formation of lumps )When the dough is still hot, transfer it to a plate and cover with a wet cloth and knead well to remove any lumps. The wet cloth is to shield your palms from the heat.Kozhakattai: Have some oil in cup and grease your hands as you make the kozhakattai. Take a lime sized ball of the dough and shape it into a cup with your fingers. First slightly flatten the ball on your palm like a disk, place your thumbs at the center of the disk, and the fingers on the outside and shape like a cup by moving the dough between your fingers.Put a spoon of the filling sweet or salt into the cups and seal it with the dough. You can either make them round or oval in shape. Steam cook the dumplings and serve.
** Typically Sweet Kozhakattai's are made round and the salted ones oval.
Enjoy !!!I am sure Ganesha's will not disappoint you :))
I am a great GANESHA devotee and every now and then I try bribing Him with kozhukattais!!
Though I have tried and tested various recipes for making Kozhukattai's , my Mom-in-law's is fool proof. She is an excellent chef and a wonderful home maker. Since my husband and Dad-in-law are great foodies and enjoy good variety food we women folk are always trying out new recipes all the time to please their gastronomical needs...
The success formula of my Mom's (MIL) cooking according to my Dad (DIL) is a potion of TLC (Tender Love & Care) which is added to the ingredients !!
My Mom's small tips have helped me learn a lot and avoid wastage !!
Here goes the Kozhakattai recipe...
Ingredients:Filling/Poornam # 1 : coconut poornam1 cup - Coconut, grated 1 ½ cup -Jaggery (2 if you want it even sweeter,I prefer 2)4-5 nos - Elaichi/Cardamom ** There is also another filling made out of Til (Seaseme seeds pwder) I am not too sure how to make it :(
Filling/Poornam # 2 : Uppu poornam (Salted)
50 Gms Urad dal (Whole or broken) ( for some 15 no's)
Salt to taste
Green chillies - 2
Ginger - grated ( Little)
Mustard seeds
Asefoetida” (Heeng) powder / Whole
Curry leaves
Method:
Soak the urad dal for 30 mins.
Grind Ginger, Greean chilles and the dal together coarsely in the mixer like a dough .(Do not add water too much ).
Steam this paste in pressure cooker or steamer for 15 - 20 mins.
Heat coconut oil (pref.) in a pan .
Add mustard seeds, one it splutters add Heeng and the steamed paste .
Add salt.
Mix it well and garnish with chopped curry leaves.
Once it cools it can be used a filling
For the dough:1 cup -Rice flour 2 cups - Water pinch of salt ½ tsp - Oil ( preferably sesame seed/gingili oil)Procedure:Coconut Poornam:Freshly grated coconut is the best for making the coconut filling. Take a wide pan and first add the jaggery with little water and keep the gas in low flame .Once the jaggery dissolves switch the gas and strain it and clean the pan .( Jaggery tends to accumulate dirt and stones sometimes,so it is better to be cautious as you dont want to be chewing small hillocks !!!) Again reheat the pan and add the strained jaggery solution now toss in the coconut and stir till the mixture thickens and starts leaving the sides of the pan. Add the elaichi powder and stir for another half a minute. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and allow it to cool. Freshly grated coconut gives this filling its best taste.
You can add a teaspoon of ghee to give it a better taste and to avoid the filling from sticking to the pan .(Optional)Dough: In a kadai/vessel bring two cups of water to a boil, add a pinch of salt and 3-4 drops of oil to the water. Once the water comes to a boil, gradually add the rice flour. Hold the end of the ladle( reverse) in the center of the vessel while adding the flour and then stir continuously for 3 mins on a low flame and then turn off the heat. Try using the end of the laddle than the mout like a stick and keep mixing / stirring the flour in the water.(This will prevent formation of lumps )When the dough is still hot, transfer it to a plate and cover with a wet cloth and knead well to remove any lumps. The wet cloth is to shield your palms from the heat.Kozhakattai: Have some oil in cup and grease your hands as you make the kozhakattai. Take a lime sized ball of the dough and shape it into a cup with your fingers. First slightly flatten the ball on your palm like a disk, place your thumbs at the center of the disk, and the fingers on the outside and shape like a cup by moving the dough between your fingers.Put a spoon of the filling sweet or salt into the cups and seal it with the dough. You can either make them round or oval in shape. Steam cook the dumplings and serve.
** Typically Sweet Kozhakattai's are made round and the salted ones oval.
Enjoy !!!I am sure Ganesha's will not disappoint you :))
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