Vegetarian recipes, desserts, indian recipes and health & fitness articles
A filer or organizer made with recycled fedex boxes Ritika has been inspired by her Art teacher at school lately, and is now more and more involved in her craft projects at home; she even has her own homemade caddy with a set of glue-sticks, pencils, toddler scissors, ribbons and markers, which keeps her busy most of the time while I complete other chores. It is so endearing to see a 3-year old … [Read more...]
Today was my darling daughter's first day at pre-school, and as I dropped her off, a collage of images filled my mind - it was like one minute she was this cute and cuddly newborn, so delicate to put down in an infant car seat as we made our way home from the hospital, and next minute she is this poised and perfect 3-year old, excited to be at her new school, telling me that "You can leave now … [Read more...]
Multi-Color Crayons made by melting old & broken crayon chips With kids, its easy to become a kid yourself and immerse into a colorful, magical world that one can only witness as a kid! My 3-year old has so many questions, sometimes I really wish I could put an end to them, but more often than not, her questions lead us to undertake beautiful adventures to find the answers that she seeks. … [Read more...]
Homemade Lavender & Jasmine Sugar Scrub, with a touch of Honey for silky soft skin I'm not too much into beautifying myself, and I often look at other women who look impeccable almost every hour of the day, and I wonder - How do they do this!? With a full-time job, a toddler at home, and a kitchen to manage, I barely find time to look presentable, forget impeccable! But nevertheless, last … [Read more...]
Homemade Christmas Ornaments Gone are the days when everything used to be Homemade, especially during Holiday season. Lack of time and easy availability of stuff at affordable prices make buying stuff an attractive bet, versus making something yourself. However, I'm sure everyone of you will agree, that making things yourself is a great way to indulge your creativity, and holiday crafts are a fun … [Read more...]
Spiced Nuts are often the best tidbits to serve at any Holiday gathering. Their versatility makes them a crowd favorite, and you can make them spicy, savory, sweet, or a dash of all together. Get inspired by holiday flavors and add cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, maple- any flavor that you fancy and give a new twist to your spiced nut recipe. They also make a wonderful gourmet gift or party favor. Just … [Read more...]
If you have Indian neighbors, you have probably already seen them stringing lights around their house, as Diwali approaches. Diwali is a very popular festival celebrated all over India, and Indians residing around the world. It is also the Hindu New Year for some Indians, and is generally celebrated as a 3-5 day festival, just like Christmas or Thanksgiving. It helps us Indians spread … [Read more...]
Photo courtesy of Hostess BlogEvery year, most of the Christians celebrate Easter in Spring, somewhere in the month of April. As part of modern traditions, everyone joins the celebrations, especially as Easter Bunny and Easter Egg Hunts promise to be a source of joy to little kids. Being a mom of a toddler, I am trying to get up-to-date with US trends and traditions too, so I can get my little one … [Read more...]
Diwali Card created using PurpleTrailThe festival season is upon us, and pretty soon, you'll find yourself planning for your Thanksgiving or Christmas Dinner, not to mention the Navratri and Diwali celebrations that are going on strong with the Indian community around the world. Festivals are very important in one's life, especially as it is often the time when the entire family tries to be … [Read more...]
As the Holiday season looms in, everyone is busy preparing gift lists for friends and family. Unfortunately, the concerns about the economy may force many of us to keep a tight budget this year! But don't worry, there are plenty of thoughtful gifts that you can make, create or buy and convert them to personalized gifts that your family will appreciate, and those that don't leave a dent in your … [Read more...]
In India, Summer is synchronous with Mangoes - yes, you will find markets and homes flooded with this sweet juicy colorful fruit, which is known as King of Fruits for a valid reason! There are several varieties of Mangoes available in India, but Kesar and Alphonso are among the most famous ones. The former has a more elongated shape with a pointed tip, and is more sweeter than Alphonso, which is more rounded, fleshy, and has a nice sweet-tart flavor. Up until a couple years ago, these varieties were not imported to US, but now that Indian stores carry these Mangoes, I am thrilled, because it means we can savor the memories that we have grown … [Read More...]
Spring and summer are prime allergy season in most parts of the US. Between the pollen from plants, animal dander, and the molds caused by spring rains, this time of year could have your entire family begging for relief. Even if you have a prescription for allergy medication, there are probably times where it does not seem to make a dent. This could be because the allergens are actually stuck to your nasal membranes. Most allergy medicines get rid of histamines, chemicals in your blood that cause many of the classing allergy symptoms, but they can’t flush allergens out of your sinuses. Some nasal sprays can, but if you also have severe … [Read More...]
Healthy Black Bean Burgers Mother's Day is just around the corner, and I am sure most of you have a grilling BBQ party planned for the same, especially as it falls on a Sunday! Or if you are fishing for BBQ recipes for Memorial Day, especially a healthy vegetarian Burger recipe, then this nutritious and extremely delicious Black Bean Burger is perfect for your menu. Inspired by Divya's Bean Burger, I decided to give this a try. The use of leftover cooked rice gives it a nice dense texture, as well as acts as a binding agent. The soaked black beans mixed with onions and garlic help create a flavorful burger patty, which will leave … [Read More...]
Last week I told you guys about the latest project that I am working on - sprucing up my backyard on a very low budget! It wasn't much about creating a new look outside, but sometimes, small changes can make things more meaningful. I wanted to work on the patio since some time now, especially as the weather is getting nice and warm outside. The garden looks beautiful, with flowers blooming all around, and thought it would be good to spend some more time outside. I did not want to spend big bucks on a new garden set, so I decided to just re-use some of the existing furniture, move it around, and create a space outside where we could sit, chat … [Read More...]
Summer is slowly starting to show its colors, as the days get longer and brighter down here in Northern California! The garden is blooming, and we've already had glimpses of hot sunny days when sipping a cold coffee or eating an ice cream out in the backyard has become a favorite family activity. So to celebrate the weather outside, we tried a new recipe last week. Frozen Avocado SemiFreddo. Yes, I agree the name sounds a bit confusing, but the recipe is a mix between ice cream and frozen yogurt, so I couldn't think of a better name than SemiFreddo. And Avocado does not seem to be a great pick for a frozen dessert, but when it's accentuated … [Read More...]
