A peek ...

Rainbow in a Jar

2011-07-27T12:32:00.001+05:30

Inspired by Flax and Twine's Rainbow in a Jar post, we set out to make our own. (Her photos are WAY better ... so if you're looking for the how-to and the pretty pics that go along with, click over to her!) We are ALL over craft projects where the "ingredients' are easy to source. Not having a Michaels or Hobby Lobby can make me crazy when I'm itching for a project. Salt - check!

Brown Sugar Chicken in the Crock

2011-07-20T06:00:00.000+05:30

Back again with Stephanie and her 365 days of crockpot cooking. This time the recipe is HERE :: What you need courtesy of Confessions of a Wacky SAHM -- 6 boneless, skinless breast halves--1 cup brown sugar--1/4 cup lemon-lime soda --2/3 cup vinegar--3 cloves smashed and chopped garlic--2 T soy sauce--1 tsp ground black pepper The Directions. Use a 5-6 quart crockpot for this recipe. Plop the

Giving up the camera

2011-07-19T01:09:00.004+05:30

I have read loads of posts where mamas give their littles the camera for a period of time ... so that they can experience the world through their eyes. I have not ventured down that path because (1) my camera is too heavy for the littles (2) I am not willing to watch helplessly should they drop it and (3) I haven't yet taken the time to really invest in giving them attention for this purpose.

Fun City Gurgaon and Vasant Kunj

2011-07-18T13:49:00.002+05:30

Fun City is not every mother's dream way to spend an afternoon, but it sure makes the kiddos giggle with glee! There are two Fun City locations in the Delhi area. The first is at Ambience Mall in Gurgaon (just past the toll plaza) and the newest is at the NEW Ambience Mall in Vasant Kunj. There is no admission charge for the Fun City locations, but you will need to purchase a FunCard to

Library Book Hack

2011-07-13T00:51:00.001+05:30

Need an easy way to remind yourself of the library books you've checked out? Take a picture of them ... and put it on your desktop! I enjoy cleaning out my desktop every week or so, which naturally provides a reminder that those books need to go back to the library!

CrockPot Barbecued Chicken and Cornbread Casserole

2011-07-12T05:00:00.008+05:30

CrockPot Barbecued Chicken and Cornbread CasseroleSo Stephanie made this on day 235 of her "365 days of slow cooking" journey. I'd dare say she was crazy, but she was determined ... boy was she determined! I'm copying and pasting her here ... with a couple of things that we changed. If you're a fellow crock-potter, check her out! If you've been wanting to TRY crock-potting, check her out! Her

Sweet Cornbread

2011-07-12T05:00:00.004+05:30

Makes 9 to 12 servings 1 cup all-purpose flour1 cup cornmeal1/4 cup sugar1/2 teaspoon baking powder1/2 teaspoon baking soda1/2 teaspoon salt1 egg, lightly beaten1 cup (8 ounces) light sour cream1/3 cup milk1/4 cup butter, melted 1. In a large bowl, combine the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. 2. Combine the egg, sour cream, milk and butter; stir into dry ingredients

Garbage ... in India!

2011-07-07T05:00:00.004+05:30

Ok so bear with me now ... (and know that it won't hurt my feelings if you just say out loud "this woman is C-razy" and hit the little "x" button on the tab up there!) I miss gardening. I miss it fiercely. Most every time I'm out and about in the city of New Delhi, I look around to see if I can't luck out and find some amazing little store that carries soil. Anything that will allow me and the

Stained Glass Jello and Layered Jello

2011-07-05T09:00:00.002+05:30

Growing up, my mama made a layered jello dessert that was so much fun. SO much fun! This is a variation on that ... and fun (recipes are ALL over the blogosphere .. who knows who gets original credit). (my mama's layered dessert instructions are at the end of this post) Broken Glass Jello ... what you need : 4 small boxes of jello, different colors (or if you live in Delhi, it's called

Cinnamon Ice Cream

2011-07-04T05:28:00.022+05:30

I have to say that Kristen has TOTALLY got me hooked on making ice cream! I consider her a dear blogging friend and boy has it been hard to know that she's sweating it out, somewhere in the midwest eating homemade ice cream, while I'm sweating it out - withOUT homemade ice cream ... SO it was time to make it ourselves here in Delhi! Time to dig out the ice cream maker shipped all the way from

From Dupatta to Dress in 30 minutes or less!

2011-07-02T05:00:00.001+05:30

It has been WAY too long since this puppy has seen the light of day. Recently we had a tailor do some work and I was quite amazed by his ability to sew while seated on the floor. I realized that 99% of the reason I hadn't gotten my sewing machine out in ages was because I don't have a good table top space to put it, where there is also a stepdown/converter combination for the India power (

Honey Beans

2011-07-01T06:00:00.002+05:30

Sauteed Green Beans with Honey and Cashews(from the Peonies and Peppermint blog) serves 4 Ingredients 1/2 Pound Fresh Green Beans, ends removed (give or take, this isn't exact)1/2 Cup HoneyOlive Oil1/4 Cup Cashews Heat a saute pan over medium heat. Add a small amount of olive oil to coat the bottom of the pan. Add the green beans saute for 3-5 minutes. Add half of the honey and stir coating

French Toast Casserole

2011-06-28T06:26:00.003+05:30

From Char (fellow garden freak in Ohio!) I got this recipe from Char AGES ago, but because we cannot get eggnog in Delhi, I put it on the back burner ... until I realized that we could MAKE homemade eggnog. 2 cups of egg nog1/2 cup of sugar (Char says this is optional and I'd say bump it down to 1/4 C)6 eggsLoaf of cinnamon bread or cinnamon raisin bread1 stick butter (Char says less.. maybe 1/2

Watermelon Waffles

2011-06-23T09:02:00.002+05:30

We recently started working on a 100 Days of Summer list, provided graciously by Amy Clark - via her Pinterest Board. The deal is, she provides 100 ideas (and the websites for further directions) and then WE get busy. I took screen shots of the pinterest board so that the kids had easy access to view the ideas, and one of the FIRST thing the kids spotted was the watermelon waffles. So cute,

Homemade Egg Nog

2011-06-21T13:22:00.000+05:30

We have had a craving lately for egg nog. Don't ask me why! It's well over 110˚ in Delhi and the last thing on our minds is fireplaces and egg nog. I have been wanting to make a recipe called French Toast Casserole for going on 2 years now, but was always dissuaded by the fact that you can't get egg nog in Delhi (even at Christmas time). Enter the wonder of All Recipes and Shanti. This is

Words on my wall

2011-06-21T06:00:00.001+05:30

This is pretty cool. A wreath made from a book but so is this. A vase made from a book but I have to say that the title of this post comes not from fun and crafty things that you can do with books, but instead the words that are literally on a wall. I love the concept of Susie's Family Rules, but wanted to make a bit larger, more colorful rendition for Mia's room. Though I don't have the

Week Three :: Thursday

2011-04-21T08:21:00.001+05:30

Mushroom and Herb Strata 4 T olive oil, plus more for the baking dish1 medium onion, chopped1 8-10 oz package mushrooms, trimmed and quartered1/2 C chopped fresh parsley6 large eggs2 C milkkosher salt and black pepper1/2 lb bread, cut into 1 inch pieces (about 6 cups)1/2 lb cheddar, grated4 C mixed greens (about 3 oz)2 tsp white wine vinegar Heat oven to 350 degrees. Oil an 8 inch square baking

Bee Bim Bop

2011-04-19T09:00:00.001+05:30

This is one of our kiddos' FAVORITE recipes. It's fun to make (as a family), and really fun to eat! Tony met the author of the book Bee Bim Bop and everytime we make it, he exclaims "I know her!" INGREDIENTS1 c. rice 2 c. water1 bunch greens, cleaned, steamed and finely chopped or processed1 lb beef MARINADE2 cloves garlic2 green onions or 1/4 of an onion5 T soy sauce2 T sugar (I bet you could

Week Three :: Wednesday

2011-04-19T08:17:00.001+05:30

Asian Beef and Mango Salad 1 lb ground beef 2 T hoison sauce2 T plus 1 tsp soy sauce1 tsp Sriracha hot chili sauce 2 T rice vinegar1 T canola oilkosher salt and black pepper1 head Boston lettuce, torn2 cucumbers, cut into thin strips1 mango, cut into thin strips1/2 C fresh cilantro sprigs1/4 C roasted peanuts, chopped Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef and cook, breaking it

Week Three :: Tuesday

2011-04-18T09:28:00.002+05:30

SHRIMP WITH WHITE BEANS AND TOAST 4 slices country bread 6 T butter 4 cloves garlic, sliced 1 lb shrimp (peeled, deveined) kosher salt and black pepper 1 15 oz can white beans, rinsed 4 C spinach (or baby arugula) Spread the bread on both sides with 2 T of the butter and cook in a large skillet over medium heat until browned, 2-3 minutes per side. Remove. Wipe out the skillet and melt the

Week Three :: Monday

2011-04-18T09:24:00.001+05:30

CHICKEN PAPRIKASH 1 T olive oil 2 1/2 lbs bone in, skin on chicken kosher salt and black pepper 1 medium onion, sliced 1 bell pepper, sliced 2 cloves garlic, chopped 1 28oz can peeled whole tomatoes (or about 8 whole fresh tomatoes) 1 T paprika 6 oz wide egg noodles 1/4 C sour cream 2 T chopped fresh dill Heat the oil in a large pot over medium high heat. Season the chicken with 1/4 tsp each

Week Two :: Thursday

2011-04-16T09:16:00.001+05:30

Chorizo and Potato Tacos with Black Bean Salsa 1 lb fresh chorizo or italian sausage, casings removed (available at Pigpo)1 potato, 8 oz, cut into 1/4 inch pieces1 15 oz can of black beans, rinsed1/2 C chopped fresh cilantro4 radishes, cut into small pieces (we omitted this) 2 T fresh lime juice1 T olive oil1/2 tsp ground cuminkosher salt and black pepper8 hard taco shells, warmed (we used

Week Two :: Wednesday

2011-04-15T09:12:00.002+05:30

Red Currant Glazed Chicken with Spinach 1/2 C red currant jelly (we used strawberry jelly)1/4 to 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper2 1/2 lbs bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces2 T olive olikosher salt and black pepper2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced1/4 C golden raisins1 10oz package of fresh spinach, thick stems removed Heat oven to 425 degrees. In a small bowl, whisk together the jelly and red pepper.Place

Week Two :: Tuesday

2011-04-14T09:08:00.002+05:30

Lamb Meatballs with Couscous and Feta 1 lb ground lamb or beef (we used pork)1/4 C dried apricots, finely chopped1/2 tsp ground coriander1 small red onion, half finely chopped and half thinly sliced1 C couscouskosher salt and black pepper3 T olive oil3 T fresh lemon juice2 plum tomatoes, sliced1/2 cucumber, halved and thinly sliced4 oz feta, crumbled Heat broiler. In a medium bowl, combine the

Week Two :: Monday

2011-04-13T09:08:00.000+05:30

Curry Shrimp and Snow Peas 1 C long grain white rice 3/4 C snow peas, sliced lengthwise 1/2 C bean sprouts 1/4 C torn fresh basil leaves 1 T canola oil 3 T fresh lime juice plus lime wedges for serving kosher salt / black pepper 14 oz of coconut milk 1-2 T of Thai red curry paste 1 1/2 lbs of shrimp, tails off and cleaned/deveined Cook the rice. Meanwhile, in a bowl, toss the snow peas and

Week One :: Friday

2011-04-04T09:21:00.000+05:30

STEAK WITH ROASTED CARROTS AND ONIONS 1 1/2 lbs medium carrots, halved crosswise, thick pieces - halved lengthwise 2 small red onions, quartered 3 T olive oil kosher salt / black pepper 4 small sirloin steaks (1 inch thick) 1/2 C dry wine 2 T dijon mustard 2 T chopped fresh tarragon Heat oven to 425. On a large rimmed baking sheet, toss the carrots, onions, 2 T of the oil, 3/4 tsp salt and 1/

Week One :: Thursday

2011-04-04T09:16:00.000+05:30

PORK CUTLETS with SPICY NOODLES 4 C chicken broth1 1/2 inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and sliced1/2 lb udon noodles (available at Modern Bazaar, Spar, etc.)1/2 lb shiitake mushrooms, sliced (we used regular mushrooms)1 red jalapeno pepper, sliced4 thin pork cutletskosher salt/black pepper1/4 C flour1 large egg, beaten3/4 C panko bread crumbs (we used normal bread)2 T oil2 scallions, sliced In

Week One :: Wednesday

2011-04-02T20:50:00.001+05:30

TURKEY BURGERS WITH CREAMY ROMAINE SLAW 1 lb ground turkey (we used ground chicken instead, as turkey is not available)1 tsp Dijon mustard1 T fresh thyme leaves2 scallions, slicedkosher salt and black pepper1 T olive oil2 T mayo1 T white wine vinegar2 leaves romaine lettuce, thinly sliced crosswise1 medium carrot, coarsely grated4 soft rolls, split and toastedpotato chips and pickles for serving

Make a Dinner Cooking Party

2011-03-30T10:01:00.001+05:30

I wrote about a recent get together between the MAD teachers, whereby we cooked up a storm and then enjoyed the results over lunch. The recipes we used are provided for you here ... they are DELICIOUS! Chicken with cashew nuts - for 4 people 4 chicken joints 1tablespoon curry powder ½ pint (1 ½ cups) chicken stock 10 fl.oz. (1 ¼ cups

Week One :: Tuesday

2011-03-29T20:49:00.000+05:30

Penne with Tomatoes, Eggplant and Mozzarella 1/2 lb penne pasta 1/4 C olive oil 1 medium eggplant, cut into 1/2 inch pieces 1/2 pound cherry tomatoes, halved 2 cloves garlic, sliced 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper kosher salt and black pepper 1/2 lb fresh mozzarella, cut into 1/2 inch pieces 1/4 C torn fresh mint leaves Cook the pasta according to the package. Reserve 1/4 C of the cooking water,

A month of menus ...

2011-03-28T22:36:00.000+05:30

Real Simple posted a month of menus in October, 2010 ... I recently found it because a friend of mine shared her magazine collection with me here in Delhi. Huge score, if you ask me! One of the frustrations of meal planning here can be the struggle of trying to come up with a varied and healthy range of meals .... But with Real Simple's help, we have all of April planned out, and ready to go!

Stuffed Pasta Shells

2011-03-04T18:18:00.000+05:30

Ingredients 12 uncooked jumbo pasta shells (we couldn't find them here, so we instead did lasagna noodles and made rolls instead) 1 medium onion 1 lb lean ground beef 1 1/2 tsp chili powder 1 package cream cheese (3 oz) 1/4 C taco sauce cooking spray 1/2 C taco sauce 1 C shredded cheese 1/2 C crushed corn chips 4 medium green onion with tops 1/2 C sour cream Instructions Fill pot about half

Kid Friendly iPhone Apps

2011-01-15T06:00:00.001+05:30

Our kids love to play on the iPhone and they often come in handy. Before I got my iPhone, I looked at moms (who handed this expensive piece of technology to their toddlers) with disgust. I thought to myself ... are they kidding? Their kids can't behave and be obedient withOUT possibly destroying their mama's phone at the same time? Oh how my tune changed when I started messing around with

O Christmas Tree

2011-01-06T06:00:00.006+05:30

“Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall.” -Larry Wilde Christmas Eve dinner of pizza and bubbly. Santa didn't quite have enough time to get wrapping paper at the market ... seeing as though the kids woke up at 1:30 am on Christmas Day (jetlag, oh how I hate thee!). I think our Christmas tree holds the record for being up the

ELF ON A ... WHAT?

2011-01-02T11:06:00.001+05:30

Have you heard of the Elf on a Shelf phenomenon? The concept behind this little red guy is that he joins your family for the month before Christmas, and keeps an eye on the children of that household. Every night, he flies back to the North Pole and reports the day's activities to Santa. Whether they've been naughty or nice, etc. I've wanted to get one for a couple of years, but never put any

What we ate ... week of December 27th

2010-12-30T21:29:00.000+05:30

Now that we're back in Delhi, it is time to do the weekly menu plan. I function best with one, and so does Shanti. We also tried some French Onion soup (who would of known that I was the ONLY one in this family who likes that soup?) but that recipe didn't warrant passing along. Pork Cutlets With Spicy Noodles Serves 4| Hands-On Time: 30m | Total Time: 30m Ingredients 4 cups low-sodium

Winter Toddy

2010-12-27T07:56:00.000+05:30

I can't remember where this recipe came from, but it is delicious! Perfect for a chilly morning, or for a late afternoon snuggle! TOASTY TODDY 8 cups boiling water 4 tea bags1 cinnamon stickSeep 5 minutes and remove tea bags. Add: 1 1/4 cup sugar4 cups cranberry juice cocktail 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice Liquor* (optional) Stir until sugar is melted and add 3 cups water. Serve

Stromboli

2010-12-17T10:13:00.000+05:30

Can it be that I have never posted this recipe before?? Don't let it scare you .... it's not as difficult as it looks (even with all of those ingredients)! It's all about the prep! Shanti makes the best Stromboli ever ... beats mine, hands down!! We are looking forward to having this on our weekly menu plan SOON after we arrive in Delhi! Basic Pizza Dough (recipe follows at the end) 1/2 pound

Rescuing Rascal

2010-12-08T06:14:00.000+05:30

There once was a mama kitty and 4 baby kittens hanging out near the hotel that temporarily housed our family of 5 during our recent trip to the United States. There also once was a brother and sister who have the biggest hearts of any kiddos I know. While these two little kids enjoyed a visit from their Mimi while staying in Kansas, she purchased a bag of kitten food and these kids fed that

Gingerbread Houses

2010-12-06T05:09:00.003+05:30

One of my memories of living in Nebraska was the annual viewing of the Gingerbread Display at the Mormon Trail Center. While in Omaha, Husb and I took the littles, plus their cousin. How precious to watch them participate in a scavenger hunt - looking for all of the itsy bitsy items such as an injured basketball player, a vegetable stand and a tire swing. It's unlikely that this

Dancing Queen

2010-12-03T06:00:00.001+05:30

Boy is this girl missing ballet at Mr. Fernandos !! She sings, dances and twirls anytime music is playing. Her arms even are on full speed when she's buckled in the car and my "classical" playlist is blasting through the car speakers! Sure seems like a natural to me!

Spider Webs

2010-11-29T06:56:00.000+05:30

One of our "away schooling" art projects called for something "fall-ish" ... what screams FALL more than spiders?? A quick internet search popped up these cool Spider Webs. Our version?

Frigits !!

2010-11-28T06:00:00.003+05:30

The littles opened their gifts from Mimi and Papa early this year since they were able to come visit us while state-side. One of the favorites so far? Frigits! The concept is simple. Take the pieces included, and build a 'roller coaster' of sorts on your refrigerator! What's fun about this toy is that it really does stretch your brain as you attempt to create a path that enables the

LAUNDRY and other DOMESTIC CHORES

2010-11-23T23:46:00.000+05:30

While in the United States, we were privileged to have a hotel where the laundry facilities were free and just down the hall from our room. If you'll remember, I destroyed some clothes attempting to do laundry while in Singapore, but decided that while here, I would get the kids involved with laundry. Since it has been quite awhile since our family was specifically responsible for the washing

Murgh Makhani

2010-10-25T14:00:00.000+05:30

Murgh Makhani (Tandoori Chicken in Tomato Cream Sauce) Serves six Ingredients 3 14-oz. cans diced or whole peeled tomatoes in tomato juice 4 tbsp. ghee (clarified butter sold at Indian grocers; you may substitute butter, but be careful not to burn it) 1 c. onion, finely chopped 2 tbsp. ginger, minced 2 tbsp. garlic, minced or crushed 1 tsp. salt (to taste) 1 tsp. sugar 1 tsp. turmeric 1

Tandoori Murgh

2010-10-21T18:39:00.000+05:30

I've been wanting to share with you some of our favoritest Indian dishes, but whenever we eat Indian, Shanti cooks them from scratch and not from a recipe. I've been struggling to find the time to have her transcribe her recipes for me. My friend Carrie recently emailed some recipes to me, and they happen to be our favorites, so I am sharing them with you. Credit for this recipe is listed

Sibling Rivalry

2010-10-05T07:07:00.002+05:30

We have reached the point in the littles' relationship where nearly every waking moment is a fight. An argument about who is smarter, a fuss about who got to sit next to which puppy. Even a race to see who can give hugs first. It wears me out ... and I've started not interfering with their drama ... and instead just putting in my headphones and turning on my music. Eventually, they work it out

Shaving Cream fun

2010-10-01T10:00:00.002+05:30

I love the Pink and Green Mama's blog and recently, Mia and I tried out her shaving cream art project! We started out with two aluminum pans (she suggests tin throwaways, but we didn't have any) and squirted a bunch of shaving cream inside. We also don't have the option of Dollar Store cans, but figured the can of Rs. 215 (almost $5.00) would work just as well, right? We added

Lunching with Tony

2010-09-28T06:18:00.000+05:30

One of the things that I enjoy about not working is the opportunity to have lunch during the day with my kids. Of course, the biggest kid would be sooo embarrassed if I showed up at the highschool, but the two littles sure love to see my face. I always surprise them (mostly so that they aren't disappointed if I can't make it for some reason) and always cross my fingers on the way in that the

Roasted Green Beans and Carrots

2010-09-18T14:00:00.003+05:30

This is DELICIOUS!! Ingredients 1 lb green beans, washed, trimmed and snapped in half 1.5 cups "baby" carrots washed and cut into uniform small pieces (small enough so that they can cook evenly with the green beans) 2 Tbs olive oil sea salt and freshly ground black pepper For the glaze: 2 Tbs aged balsamic vinegar 1/2 - 1 clove peeled and finely chopped garlic 1.5 Tbs honey Preheat oven

When life gives you Tang ...

2010-09-15T14:00:00.001+05:30

... you make lemonade! Since our options here in Delhi are a bit limited as far as drink mixes, I was excited recently to find a big container of Tang. Not so excited to find the instructions in .... (what language is this?) I soon realized that the OTHER side of the canister contained instructions in English and we soon set to filling the pitcher with water from our filtration system. Little

What we're eating ... week of September 13th

2010-09-12T15:49:00.000+05:30

After some issues with the way our kitchen runs these days, I am taking a little more initiative when it comes to the food preparation. Instead of getting frustrated when things are done incorrectly, I'll provide a bit more guidance than before to ensure that everyone is happy at the end of the day. Meaning realistically ... when I ask for Broccoli Salad, I'll physically help to look inside the

Afternoon Puppet Show

2010-09-02T20:43:00.000+05:30

The year before last ... or maybe the year before that ... we got our kids a box of puppets and a puppet theatre. It was nothing special and we opted for the cheaper version instead of the deluxe (way too expensive) option. They played with it a bit here and there, but mostly sat in the corner. I spent a ridiculous amount of time trying to keep the puppets away from the dog, as he thought they

What we're eating ... week of August 29th

2010-08-29T17:30:00.000+05:30

I can barely keep up it seems ... but menu planning is something that keeps us happier, organized and less stressed, so I'm pressing forward with this week's list. I am full up on chicken here lately, and we haven't ordered red meat in MONTHS ... so this week is mostly about veggies and pasta. Hmmm ... let's see how quickly the family gets tired of THIS meal plan! MONDAY :: Blue Cheese Salad

What we're eating ... week of August 16th

2010-08-15T11:05:00.000+05:30

Laziness ... I wasn't in the mood to pore over the internet OR my cookbooks, so I'm borrowing the whole kit and caboodle from Kristen at Dine and Dish for this week's menu plan. Three Cheese Pizza with mushrooms Chicken Tequila Fettuccine Ham & Cheese Panini Shrimp Tacos Chicken Enchiladas Last week was a huge success ... the household favorites? BBQ Chicken Packets and Ree's macaroni and

Welcome to 2nd Grade

2010-08-13T00:49:00.000+05:30

Our middle little just started 2nd Grade. He came home during his first week with a little packet of trinkets from his teacher. Inside was a note :: Also inside the packet were these items (forgive the quality of pictures. it was late at night and the light wasn't forgiving, and I haven't mastered Ree's hip pose) (he ate the "sweet" before he got home!) Doesn't it seem like good advice

Ballerina

2010-08-11T13:52:00.032+05:30

I've been meaning to post photos of Mia's ballet classes, but decided to only share two of them (trust me, there are hundreds!). Ballet is pretty exciting for me since Mia has been begging for it for the last two years. She thoroughly enjoys class ... and waltzes in all by herself without any encouragement. Twice a week, she dresses up in ballet pink, packs her little bag (pink of course) with

What we're eating this week ...

2010-08-09T07:48:00.001+05:30

Going to participate in Jen's weekly menus ! I love getting inspiration from other folks! Breakfasts ::cinnamon/sugar toast cinnamon/sugar rice graham crackers with milk eggs pancakes pop tarts cold cereal Lunches :: Now that school has started, the boys will both be eating there ... so Mia and I will simply have leftovers, or salad/fruit. Dinners :: Monday The kids will have Ree's Mac n Cheese

Tea Party

2010-08-07T04:30:00.000+05:30

Little Miss has wanted to have a family tea party for the longest time. On a recent Saturday, she convinced everyone to participate. We slathered some strawberry frosting on some cupcakes, made some hot tea and sat down together as a family to sip some and munch some. Even the big kid got involved!

Dissection of a phone

2010-08-04T09:30:00.000+05:30

Tony LOVES electronics, experiments and anything that requires a screwdriver and taking things apart. He has been on the search for things to take apart ... and most recently he was gifted with an old phone. There was no point to him taking it apart ... and we'll never get it back together ... but he enjoyed that phone and the new way to spend an hour or two.

There's NO Lowes in Delhi!

2010-08-03T04:30:00.000+05:30

Recently I decided it would be super fun to make this 'color tablet game' written about by Pink and Green Mama. Problem is ... there's no Lowe's in Delhi! Enter my friend Kim from Texas ... we were talking one day about the fun project and she offered to get paint 'strips' to me. Lo and behold, they arrived in the mail and we set to work on the craft. (Apparently, there is a REALLY funny

On Budgeting

2010-07-30T12:18:00.000+05:30

I've never been a fan of budgeting. I've always griped that it isn't any fun, it takes work and isn't very spontaneous. Part of my problem has been that I hadn't found a system/program that worked well for me. All of those fancy internet-based budgeting programs worked nicely enough when we lived in the United States, but left me with a headache when trying to use them in India (i.e. Mint (

Oven Ham Sammies

2010-07-30T12:10:00.000+05:30

Borrowed from Jen at One Week at a Thyme :: 1 12 count package rolls1/2 cup butter melted1/2 tsp ground mustard1 tsp poppy seeds2 tsp onion flakes1 tsp worcheshire sauce1 package swiss cheese12-16oz thin sliced ham Put ham and cheese on sliced rolls Mix all other ingredients and spoon over sammies. Let set overnight or several hours Bake on 350 for 15 min before serving

Sweet Carrots

2010-07-30T12:08:00.000+05:30

The easiest way to get your kiddos to eat carrots ... and also a delicious way to serve as a side dish for adults! Ingredients :: 1 pound baby carrots 1/4 cup orange juice 3 tablespoons brown sugar 2 tablespoons butter 1 pinch salt Place carrots in a shallow saucepan, and cover with water.

2010-07-23T23:23:00.000+05:30

Peach Floats .... borrowed from Real Simple Serves 4 Hands-On Time: 35m Total Time: 1hr 05m (it took me WAY longer!)

Seasonal Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Tortilla Chips

2010-07-16T17:56:00.000+05:30

Oh my oh my .... this is melt in your mouth goodness. Fruit Salsa (use any variation of fruits you can think of ... we opted to not include the jalapeno, strawberries are not available and I didn't like the sound of an orange in it) 1 cup strawberries, chopped 3 kiwifruits, peeled and chopped ¼ cup mango, chopped ½ cup pineapple, chopped 1 medium orange, peeled, seeded and chopped¼ cup bell

Grilled Sausage with Summer Veggies and Pinterest

2010-07-16T17:27:00.000+05:30

I saw this first on Pinterest ... my new favorite "virtual bulletin board" (try it, you'll love it!). The basic jist of Pinterest is that you can "pin" your favorite websites, things, whatever is on the internet ... onto your bulletin board. You can share your favorites with others ... and get new favorites by viewing your friends' boards. I digress. I can't remember who first pinned this

Creamy Potato Soup

2010-02-01T13:50:00.000+05:30

Thanks to Lisa D. from Ohio! (via RecipeZaar) Ingredients: 4 c of chicken broth 4 c of peeled and cubes potatoes 1/4 c minced onions 1/2 tsp seasoning salt 1/4 tsp white pepper 1/4 tsp ground red pepper 1 8 oz package of cream cheese, cut into chunks Servings: 4-6 Directions: 1. Combine broth, potatoes, onion and spices. 2. Boil on medium heat until potatoes are tender. 3. Smash a few

Chicken Soup with Couscous

2010-01-31T18:11:00.000+05:30

for cold winter nights... from Caitlin 4 chicken thighs on the bone 1 onion, chopped 3 cloves of garlic, minced 3 carrots, chopped 4 tomotoes, chopped 2 med-sized potatoes, peeled and chopped 1/2 red pepper, seeded and chopped 1 cup green beans or zucchini, chopped 1 cup chick peas 1/2 cup couscous 4 cups stock (veg or chicken) 2 tbs olive oil --heat the olive oil in a large pot, add the

Chicken Enchiladas

2010-01-30T13:44:00.000+05:30

(Shared by Lindi VanWinkle as part of a Facebook Recipe Exchange!) 4 skinless chicken breast seasoned to taste (I use lemon pepper or two brothers seasoning) 2 cans Enchilada Sauce (I use one mild and one hot blended) its spicy hot or just use mild 1 can Green Chilles (chopped) 4 cups + or - Monterey and Cheddar Cheese 2 pks Mission Corn Tortillas (or any brand mission is my

Chimichangas

2010-01-27T20:16:00.000+05:30

I miss Mexican food like you wouldn't believe. Recently though, Shanti followed this recipe to a "T" and it was delic! ½ LB Chopped Bacon Pieces 1 LB of premium Ground or Shredded Beef ½ onion, diced 2 tomatoes chopped 1 can chopped green chilies 1 tsp. salt 1½ tsp. oregano 1 to 2 tsp. chili powder 2 tbsp. minced, fresh cilantro 12 lg. flour tortillas, warmed

Sunday Morning Quesadillas

2009-11-15T21:57:00.000+05:30

Courtesy of my girlfriend from Texas ... recipes don't get any better than this! Mrs. L's Sunday Morning Quesadillas with Avocado and Tomatoes 1/2 c peeled pitted finely chopped avocado 2 t chopped cilantro 1/8 t salt 2 flour tortillas---8 in 1 1/2 oz cream cheese softened 2 large slices about 2 oz smoked salmon 2 tomatoes, thinly sliced 2 very thin red onion slices 2 t drained chopped

Glorified Meatloaf

2009-11-15T21:54:00.000+05:30

Simply THE best way to make meatloaf! 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1/2 cup ketchup 2 T worcestershire sauce 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef 1/2 cup milk 2 eggs 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 small onion, chopped 2 stalks celery, finely chopped 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger 3/4 cup breadcrumbs 3-4 cheese sticks shredded cheese 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease

Mama Mia Pasta

2009-09-24T17:19:00.001+05:30

angel hair pasta italian dressing olive oil fresh veggies parmesan cheese boil pasta roast veggies on pan with salt/pepper and olive oil. roast for 15 minutes toss with pasta, italian dressign and parmesan cheese

Homemade BBQ Sauce

2009-09-24T17:17:00.001+05:30

2 C ketchup 1 C white vinegar 6 T honey 6 garlic cloves, peeled Pour ketchup, vinegar and honey into bowl. Finely chop garlic, Add to sauce with black pepper. Jar and refrigerate.

Sweet Couscous

2009-09-24T17:16:00.000+05:30

1 1/2 C hot water 1 T butter 1 C couscous 1/2 C raisins 1 T sugar Hot Milk Bring water and butter to a boil in a medium sized saucepan. Turn off heat and stir in couscous, raisins and sugar. Cover the pan and let it sit for 5 minutes. Fluff the couscous with a fork and scoop into bowls. Pour hot milk on top and enjoy!

Japanese Soup

2009-09-24T17:13:00.000+05:30

1 package ramen noodles (will only serve 1-2) 1 carrot, cut into very thin sticks 1 scallion, chopped 2 radish, cut into very thin strips 3 mushrooms, sliced pea pods shredded cabbage Make soup according to directions. Add in remaining vegetables (if needed, lightly steam veggies first if your kids dont like the crunch)

Honey Glazed Chicken Wings

2009-09-24T17:06:00.000+05:30

8-12 chicken wings 1/4 C soy sauce 1/4 C water 1 T honey 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1 T chopped fresh ginger In large baking dish mix soy sauce, water, honey, garlic and ginger Toss in chicken and marinate for at least 15 minutes Broil wings for 10 minutes. Using tongs, turn wings. Cook another 10 minutes, then serve.

Guacamole Potato Salad

2009-09-24T17:03:00.000+05:30

3 lbs red potatoes 2 T salt 1 1/2 tsp salt 1 ripe avocado, peeled 1/2 C lime juice 2 garlic cloves, crushed 1/2 C chopped coriander 2 T mayonnaise 2 celery stalks, sliced Boil potatoes with 2 T salt Puree avocado and remaining ingredients until smooth Cut potatoes into bite size chunks. Put in dressing. Stir and serve.

Sweet and Sour Shrimp

2009-09-24T17:02:00.000+05:30

1 pineapple 2 tsp cornstarch 6 T chili sauce 2 T soy sauce 1 tsp garlic powder 4 tsp oil 2 green bell pepper, chopped 1 onion, sliced 2 lbs prawns Reserving juice of pineapple, cut into chunks. Combine juice, cornstarch, chili sauce, soy sauce and garlic powder. Set aside. Coat skillet with cooking spray and add oil. Place over heat. Add green pepper and onion. Cook until JUST tender. Add

Lovey Chicken Saute

2009-09-24T17:00:00.000+05:30

1 lb chicken breasts 1 large red bell pepper, cut in half 3 T olive oil 1 medium red onion, chopped 2 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped 1 lb white mushrooms, cut into slices Salt/Pepper Cookie Cutters Pound chicken to flatten. Cut into strips. Cut out shapes from red pepper. Use olive oil and cook chicken. Remove chicken. Cook onion and garlic, saute. Add mushrooms, then return

Thai Cucumber Salad

2009-09-24T16:58:00.000+05:30

2 T lime juice 2 T sugar 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper salt 1 cucumber, thinly sliced 1 T fresh chives, snipped 1 T sliced basil leaves 1 T minced coriander 1 T chopped peanuts. Combine all ingredients.

Spatulatta Enchilada

2009-09-13T19:53:00.000+05:30

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed 1 can chopped green chiles 1 C thinly sliced red onions 2 celery stalks, finely chopped 1 red pepper, cut into strips 10 oz corn kernels 3/4 C sliced black olives 12 tortillas 1 can enchilada sauce 2 C shredded cheddar cheese Preheat oven to 350. In a large skillet, mix beans, chiles, celery, onions, corn, olives and peppers. Cook briefly. Place tortilla

BBQ Potato and Corn Salad

2009-09-13T18:53:00.000+05:30

1/3 C ranch dressing 1/3 C bbq sauce 2 T dijon mustard 3 lb red potatoes, cooked and quartered 16 oz corn kernels 1/2 C celery, sliced 1/2 C chopped red peppers 1/2 C chopped red onion 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled Mix first 3 items. Add all remaining, except bacon. MIX WELL. Add bacon and serve.

Black Bean Chili

2009-09-13T18:51:00.000+05:30

3 T oil 1 C onions, chopped 1/2 C chopped green pepper 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped 2 T chili powder 1 T cumin 1 T dried oregano 2 cans (or 32oz) black beans, drained and rinsed 1 can (28oz) tomatoes (don't drain) Saute onions, peppers and garlic in oil for 5 minutes. Sprinkle in seasonings Pour all into large pot and simmer for one hour.

Tzimmes

2009-09-13T18:49:00.000+05:30

3 sliced carrots 4 sliced sweet potatoes 3 apples, peeled and quartered 1/2 C brown sugar (I use a bit more) :) 3 T butter salt/pepper 3 C water Bring 2 cups of water to boil. Simmer carrots and sweet potatoes until JUST cooked. Drain and cool. In 2.5 quart baking dish, alternate sweet potatoes, carrots and apples. On each layer, sprinkle some brown sugar, salt, pepper and dabs of butter.

Chicken Yakatori

2009-09-13T18:47:00.001+05:30

1/4 C soy sauce 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped 1" piece fresh ginger, finely chopped 1 T honey 1/2 tsp sesame oil 1 lb chicken breast, cut into 1" strips 2 C cornflakes, crushed skewers Combine first 5 items for marinade. Place chicken in marinade for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 Put cornflakes in plastic bag. Skewer chicken. Roll in cornflakes Cover cookie sheet with foil. Wrap ends

Broccoli Salad

2009-09-13T18:45:00.001+05:30

2 bunches broccoli, chopped 1 medium red onion, chopped 1/2 C raisins 12 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled Dressing : 1 C mayo 2 T balsamic vinegar 2 T sugar Combine ALL ingredients. Chill and serve!

Wagon Wheel Alfredo

2009-09-13T18:44:00.000+05:30

8 oz dried small pasta wheels 1 1/2 C milk 3 T flour 2/3 C freshly grated parmesan cheese 1/2 C sour cream 4 oz deli ham, diced 1 1/2 C peas salt/pepper Cook pasta according to package. Drain and set aside. Return the saucepan to the stove (do not place over heat just yet!) Add milk and flour and whisk until blended. Place over medium high heat and bring to simmer, stirring constantly.

Scarlet Salad

2009-09-13T18:42:00.001+05:30

12 oz red potatoes, sliced 12 oz asparagus 6 C lettuce 14 oz baby corn 8 oz beets 1 C pea pods 1/3 C chopped red onion vinaigrette dressing Boil potatoes for 10 minutes. Add asparagus for 2 minutes. Drain and add other items.

Birthday Noodles with Peanut Sauce

2009-09-13T18:41:00.000+05:30

2 T peanut butter 1/4 C hot water 3 T soy sauce 1 tsp honey 4 C noodles, cooked 2 scallions, cut into 1/2" pieces bean sprouts In large bowl, use a fork to stir peanut butter with water until creamy. Add soy sauce and honey, set aside. Add noodles to bowl with peanut butter mix. Toss well. Serve noodles with all remaining ingredients.

Jenny's Banana Muffins

2009-08-31T10:24:00.000+05:30

1 1/2 C flour 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp baking powder 4 very ripe bananas 1/2 C sugar 1/4 C brown sugar 1 egg, beaten 1/3 C oil 1 tsp vanilla 1/2 tsp nutmeg 3/4 tsp cinnamon * TOPPING: 1/3 C brown sugar 2 T flour 1/4 tsp cinnamon 1 T butter Heat oven to 375 degrees. Grease muffin cups. Mix flour, soda, powder, nutmeg, cinnamon and salt. Separately mix bananas, white sugar, egg, brown sugar,

Butter Chicken

2009-08-23T13:07:00.000+05:30

Butter Chicken, a non-vegetarian delicacy is one of the most popular dishes not only in India but also other parts of the world. Also known as Murg Makhani, the popular Indian non-vegetarian dish of Butter Chicken is easily available across many Indian restaurants and eateries all over India especially the north of India. Butter Chicken is said to have originated from the popular Moti Mohal

Zucchini Succotash

2009-08-23T13:03:00.001+05:30

1 zucchini bunch of fresh basil handful of raw cashews cumin spice sea salt extre virgin olive oil whole wheat bread crumbs or tortilla chips (*** See below) Cut up the zucchini into 1/8 inch round slices and then halve so that they are moon shaped. Place the olive oil, zucchini and a dash of sea salt into an omlet pan and cook until slightly brown on both sides. Coursely chop fresh basil and

Tandoori Chicken Kebabs

2009-06-27T03:17:00.000+05:30

Recipe provided by Sonali Tandoori Chicken Kebabs Serves 4 For the rub ************ 2 skinless chicken broilers that are 600 grams each 1 tsp Chaat masala 2 tsp Cream 3 1/3 T Garlic paste 2 tsp Ginger paste 2 T Lemon juice 5 tsp Red chilli paste Salt to taste For the marinade ************ 1 tsp Cumin powder 2 tsp Garam masala 5 tsp Ginger paste 2 T Lemon juice 3 1/3 T Oil 5 tsp Red chilli

Chicken Dilruba

2009-06-27T03:15:00.000+05:30

Recipe provided by Indian Food Forever 2 medium onions 1 cup milk 2 tbs chopped fresh ginger root 2 tbsp garam masala 6 tbs butter or vegetable oil 1 tsp ground turmeric 3-4 lb. chicken, skin removed, cut 2-3 fresh green cayenne peppers, minced, into small pieces or serranos/jalapenos as substitute 1 cup fresh plain yogurt Salt and ground cayenne to taste 1/4 cup almonds, ground A few strands

Sauteed Green Beans with Coconut

2009-06-27T03:12:00.000+05:30

Recipe provided by Heather but posted here with my modifications: Makes 4 servings 1/2 cup frozen fresh grated unsweetened coconut* (1 1/2 oz) 1 lb green beans, trimmed 3 tbsp. oil 2 tsp. black mustard seeds 1 bay leaf 1/4 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. black pepper 1-2 curry leaves (I omitted a hot chile pepper) Cook beans in a 6-quart heavy pot of boiling salted water , uncovered, until crisp- tender

Aloo Gobi

2009-06-27T03:08:00.000+05:30

Recipe provided by Heather Small amount of oil or ghee for frying 1 tsp of cumin powder 1 tsp of turmeric powder 1 tsp of chili powder Cauliﬂower in small pieces 4 Potatoes cut into small pieces salt to taste 1 tsp corriander powder 1 tsp dry mango powder small bunch of corriander or cilantro leaves Heat up the pan and the oil. Fry the cumin, turmeric and chili powders in the oil or ghee for

Cucumber Raita

2009-06-27T02:56:00.000+05:30

Recipe from Epicurious * 1 medium cucumber * 1 teaspoon cumin seeds (I omitted these) * 2 cups plain, whole-milk yogurt * 1 clove garlic, peeled and minced (especially nice when using a garlic mincer!) * 2 tablespoons fresh coriander or mint leaves, chopped * cayenne or paprika to garnish Peel cucumber. Cut lengthwise into 1/4-inch strips, then into thin slices

Lindi's BBQ Pork

2009-05-25T01:11:00.001+05:30

the latest installment of our Dinner, Delivered! 3 lbs pork 1 C water Cook on high 7 hours in crockpot. The last hour, remove and drain liquid from crockpot. Remove ALL fat and shred pork. Place back in pot. Add: 1 bottle bbq sauce 1/4 C brown sugar 2 T Worcestershire sauce salt + pepper Serve on buttered toasted kaiser buns and enjoy!