Sunday, December 31, 2017

Happy New Year, 2018

We are just few hours away from another year. In less than twelve hours another year will come, sun will rise again on the East giving us new hope to pass another year. This year came and just gone by within a blink. 


So many things happened only within 365 days, some of them were good, constructive, some were not. Mother nature was angry time to time, and showed us her fury, yet she is gentle, she is loving.

 
Anyway, my year was mixed of many things. We jumped into remodeling our house, at one point I lost all my peace, and couldn’t even thinking of getting back the house. However, on the other way remodeling gave me something that might not I would do. When, there was a big problem with the bathrooms, I went to stay with my sister in Philadelphia. I knew if the remodeling didn’t happen, I wouldn’t go to her. 


Off late I couldn’t keep up in the blogosphere. Sometimes I only posted on Fridays. I couldn’t sit and write down. I couldn’t take good pictures to show you. But your positive comments always make keep going. I’m really grateful to get many good virtual friends in the blogosphere. 
I don’t make any resolutions. Resolutions give me more stresses. So, I’ve decided to keep going, doing work, and thinking all positive.


Wish all of you a very Happy and Prosperous New Year. May the yea will bring all happiness, peace, good health, and all things positive.


See you again in the next year
XOXO

Friday, December 29, 2017

Five on Friday

Monday:
We went to a short trip to Carmel by the sea. Today evening we came back home. So, I did nothing as much since morning. I’ll write in details about the trip. The little town by the sea is just like a fairy tale town. I think any time I can go there and relax. Carmel wouldn’t be boring anytime to me. Anyway, after eating out continuously since Saturday we wanted to have some home cooked food. So, I cooked in the evening, and the day was mellow.

Saturday, December 23, 2017

Five on Friday

Monday:


Yes, at last we are going to get back our home. The contractor has told that he is going to hand over tomorrow. We are getting back our home on Tuesday. After doing the volunteer duty in school I came back home to start my baking spree. I’m already late in baking, as I’m not going to get much time from tomorrow. I have cleaning house, and going for work from tomorrow. Before going to pick my son from school I could bake six cakes (two together at a time). The baking is not in my hand , it depends on the oven. At least I baked few yesterday. So I have to bake only two more which I can manage tomorrow.

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Christmas mini album for sister

For a long time I desperately wanted to sure the mini album I created for my sister. However, I didn't do, because I didn't want to spoil her surprise. Now she has already received the album, so, now I can share with you. I created this album amid chaos in my home. The day I started creating the album the painting guy had been spraying prima. It became so difficult to stay at home, my son and I went to library. n the top of that my son was not feeling well today. Anyway, I managed to finish that, and sent it to my sister. Here are the snick picks of the album.


Saturday, December 16, 2017

Five on Friday

Monday:
Today when I peek through the blinds in the morning, I saw thick frost on the roofs, but the sky was crystal clear. The  sun was shinning in the bight gorgeous blue sky. It was looking picture perfect, but I didn’t feel happy. It is almost mid of the december we yet to get rain. May be this year again we would get another dry winter, and which is not good. The mountains are still barren, yet to get the green coat of grass. I fear this year the mountain are not going to get the light green color coat of grass. I know, I can easily find the weather of december in weather channel. However, I don’t want to do that. I just want to keep my hope alive of getting rain. Isn't it crazy? 
Season's first fruitcake


Tuesday:
Today in the morning I went to work. After that I had time in my hand before going to pick my son, I went to Hobby Lobby. In the mean time I had been chatting with my sister, and totally forgot Why I went to Hobby Lobby. So, I only browsed every isle, but when I saw the queue at the register, I stopped myself to buy anything. 

Shortbread cookies were instant hit

Wednesday:
Today Mr. Man decided to take leave, and all my plan went in vein. Only productive thing I did, making worksheet for my son.
My son'd first gift from his friend's mom

Thursday: 
Thursday early morning I had physiotherapy session. It was freezing cold outside. Though the sun was burning bright, but couldn’t melt the ice. Only thing he did, was to make difficult in driving. The sun was so bright it was really difficult to see. Yesterday while crossing one stop, I really couldn’t see anything due to glaring sunlight. Luckily, one was crossing the road. After that my friend and I had a quick coffee together before running some errands.
Holiday decorations in nearby mall

Friday:
Today the floor guy came with his assistants, and had started doing the floor. Hopefully, they would finish by tomorrow. At last the today crocheted the infinity scarf for my friend, and I gifted her today. She was very happy , and she immediately put that on her neck. *smile*

I saw this sculpture in the mall, isn't it beautiful?





Monday, December 11, 2017

Bull Chasing

This post is little different. This time I'm posting a story written by my 9 years old son. Please read it.

Love


Saturday, December 9, 2017

Five on Friday

Monday:
I couldn't even imagine we are already in December, and the year is going to end so soon. I really don’t know what I did through out the year. On the top of that, remodeling is resisting me to do many things. Once the worker leave the house I can do my chores.
However, today I cooked in the morning, so that I didn’t need to cook  at least for three days.

 

Tuesday, December 5, 2017

Chicken and dumpling soup

On Thanksgiving Day I was thinking of cooking something special, but nothing was coming in my mind. I usually watch the cooking videos on Youtube. From there I got a recipe of chicken and dumpling soup. From the recipe I found that, almost all the ingredients were available in my kitchen. I decided not to use few of the ingredients like heavy cream, or cheese, just to make the soup a little light. That recipes are extremely delicious. Here I’m sharing my version of chicken and dumpling soup.

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Kacha Thai Resturant

Every time I went to restaurant, I think of writing down my total experience, but every time  I ended up totally forgetting. After long time when I look back to those pictures, I can’t even remember where I tasted those food. So, this time I deiced to share with you my experience on a Thai restaurant.  Suddenly on sunday Mr. Man decided to go to restaurant for lunch. When we started from home,the weather was good. But, in the midway, all of a suddenly it started raining heavily. Anyway, that wasn’t the matter. The Thai restaurant name “Kacha” was in a mall. We parked our car in the parking lot, then lost the way to go. We went up and down few times, in the parking lot, then we went out on the road, then we abled to enter the restaurant from the front. After entering, I started wondering, how another family whom I saw had parking the after us reached before? Anyway, my son went with ‘Pad Thai’, he didn’t war to taste any other food item. I decide to go lunch platter. I forgot the name of the dish Mr. Man ordered. The food was good. The yellow curry in the platter was very tasty, and the cashew chicken was delicious.

Lunch platter

Saturday, November 25, 2017

Five on Friday

Monday:
My son had no school this entire week. I thought that I would have some rest this week. However, things went entirely wrong. The painting guy came in the morning to put prima on all the walls. The prima is a spray . Though he tried hard to cover, but the fine particles scattered all over the place in my  entire home. It was difficult to stay at home on that smell. On the top if that my son was not feeling well. At last unable to stay at home we both went to library. As he was not feeling well, he didn't even want to stay in the library. I told him that we had to stay in library until the guy left our home. Anyway, we came back around three. At least at that time he stopped spraying.

I brought all those book from library, do not how many I can finish. :)

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Ground Chicken Fried Rice and Happy Thanksgiving

I just can’t believe that Thanksgiving is round the corner! This is the time to give thanks to other, to recognize all the people, and things for which I thankful. First of all I want to give to thank to all my blogger friends .  Your encouragement keeps me going for all those years. Your lovely comments always make me happy, and inspire me to write more. I want to say sorry to all of you because, I rarely reply to your comment, but I always read them. Again I want to give thanks for those. Here I’m sharing one rice of fried rice. If you are not going to Thanksgiving dinner, or not hosting any, like me who are just spending a quiet time on Thanksgiving night, you can try this fried rice. *smile*

Saturday, November 11, 2017

Five on Friday

Monday:


As usual the Monday was very busy. Since morning one after another job was going on without any stopping. After dropping my son to school, I went to work. From there I came home, gulped down my lunch, and went to pick my son. As the remodeling is going on, I cannot do anything before five in the evening. After the workers went, I finished the household chores.


Friday, November 3, 2017

Five on Friday

Monday:


Today I did a lot of things, no rather a chain of jobs. Since morning I had been doing things one after another. After dropping my so in school I came back home just to dress up for work. Then I went to school to volunteer in the library. From there I went to work. As soon as I finished work, I rushed back to school to pick up my son early to take him to doctor. From school Mr. Man and I took him to orthopedic doctor for check up. Doctor to lad that his hand is doing well, and he need to keep the cast for another 2 weeks. My poor son!! Then we came back home. After coming back again I had to clean up area of the where we are now living now. Luckily I had some left over in the fridge, so, I didn’t need to cook.

Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Halloween and Long, long day

Halloween is over for this year. It was a long, long day to me. It started in the early morning, and ended late night, but not in a happy note. You know remodeling is going on in my home. It is a totally madhouse now. The workers usually come early in the morning. Due to the shorter day,every day they arrive when it is still dark outside.

Pumpkin carved by Mr. Man

Monday, October 30, 2017

Chicken vegetable stir fry

Half pound boneless chicken breast

Two big florets of cauliflower

One small zucchini

One medium sized onion 

One small carrot

One bell pepper ( I used an orange one. You can use different colored bell pepper. The dish will look colorful)

half tsp cumin powder

one fourth tsp. coriander powder

One tbsp. wine vinegar

salt to taste

Freshly ground pepper

Two tbsp. of oil

Method: (serving size 3)

Saturday, October 28, 2017

Five on Friday

First of all I want to thank all my lovely blogger friends for their wishes for speedy recovery of my son. Last week due all those happening I couldn’t post my week review. This week I decided post the review. The week was pretty hectic.

 
Monday:
My son went to school after the mishap. I talked with his teacher, and she told that she would figure out something, as he broke his writing hand. Around one in the afternoon, I took him out from school to go to orthopedic doctor. I had some other appointment, so, I couldn’t go with him. I took him from school, and went to Mr. Man’s office. From there he took the kiddie to doctor. Then I rushed to my work. I came back home around 8 in the evening. My Mr. Man cooked the dinner for the day.

A lone Marvel Peru is striving in the garden.

Sunday, October 22, 2017

Pear cake recipe and life update

The last week was a crazy week. In my home, the electrician, the roof guy, the HVAC guy, and few others were working. On Friday there were at least 7 people were working. Almost through out the week they worked since morning until 6:30 in the evening. It was really painful to me. On the top of that my son broke his right wrist on Friday. In the evening I was drinking tea, and planning to write week's review. Suddenly, my son’s loud piercing cry startled me. I saw him that he was screaming in absolute pain holding his right wrist. My husband and I rushed to him. Within moment we saw a ballon like bubble on the wrist. We put ice pack on that place and rushed him to urgent care. He generally doesn’t cry much. However, that evening the poor little guy cried a lot. 

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Diwali 2017

This third week of October the Indians are celebrating Diwali. Diwali is a very ancient Hindu festival. Diwali or Deepavali means series of lights. This festival is celebrated all over India , and it is the most awaited festival. Though this the festival of lights,but no festival or celebration can be finished without delicious food.So,before the festival, all the Indians clean their homes, decorate, and make many sweets, and yummy snacks. If I don't mention the two main decorations, then the story will be unfinished.Those two are 'Toran', and 'Rangoli'.They put decorations on the top of door frame of the front door of the house which is called “Toran”. We know ,Indians love colors. So, in their any festival, there must be some colors. When this is the biggest festival, no doubt, they make it very colorful by putting some colorful designs on the porch or doorway  as well as on floors of other rooms in the house. It depends on the one’s wish. These colorful designs, called Rangoli, are usually created by a powdered material which usually comes in many colors.

Monday, October 16, 2017

Chicken with Green Bell pepper

This week the air is much better, and it is more clear. From this week we can start our usual outdoor activities. The remodeling job is going on full swing. The week was nice, and the weather is cool. First we decided to go to Half Moon Bay on Saturday to be in the Pumpkin festival . However, Half Moon Bay is far from our home, and we had to start very early in the morning to reach there , and to get a good parking. So, we decided to stay at home. Anyway, as I don’t like to on weekends, I decided to cook a simple chicken recipe.

Friday, October 13, 2017

Five on Friday


This week the situation in California is not good. In many places wild fires brake out, and many people are suffering from that. Though, at the end of the week the situation has come under control, but the loss is immense. I’ve never heard such devastating fire in California in 10 years. When we were in Southern California, we saw the mountain very near to our apartment under huge fire. We saw the blaze from our patio, but never heard about such horrible destructions.  This time the fire has created a horrible situation. Though, we are far from the fire, still we can smell the smoke. I can imagine the situation of those less fortunate people who are still going through it. Hope, the situation will good be very soon. 
My five days in this week

Friday, October 6, 2017

Five on Friday

Monday: 

After Sunday’s run, I needed rest very much (Those who wants to know about the run please click here). So, I didn’t walk or exercise in the morning. Though I thought of having rest, but I ended up doing lots of works entire evening.  In the morning took my son to doctor’s office  for physical in the morning before school. From there rushed him to school. In the evening we take him to swim class. In the forty-five minutes we ran a lot of errands. As he fished him swimming we rushed to Part City to by his halloween costume. We didn’t want to wait for the last moment to buy the costume. When we got back hime 8:30 I was tired as a dog.


Wednesday, October 4, 2017

Buttercup squash soup


When you get a large buttercup squash from you backyard garden, what can you do? Yes, you can cook delicious buttercup squash soups. Few days back Mr. Man cut the huge butter squash, I couldn’t  understand what to cook with that. I cut it into few big chunks, and kept them in the refrigerator. Few times I cut the big chunks into small slices, and fry them. Then I got bored cooking the same thing. I searched on the Pinterest, and found some delicious soup recipe. However, whatever recipe I chose, I found that some of the ingredients were missing In my pantry. So, I decided to cook the soup with my own recipe.


Three cups of buttercup squash chunks
One big onion
One big tomato
Few asparagus
Four-five white mushrooms
Half pound skinless boneless chicken thigh
Two tsp. of garlic powder
One tsp. of ginger powder
One branch of celery 
One carrot (peels of carrots will work fine)
One stalk of broccoli
One bay leaves
salt to taste
One tbsp. of olive oil
Two tsp. of wine vinegar
Dry oregano
Chili flakes(optional)


Cut celery, carrot, tomato, asparagus,onion into big chunks.
Cut the mushrooms into thin slices. Keep aside.
Take a big sauce pan.
Fill the sauce pan with few cups of water.
Cut the chicken into medium pieces.
Add celery, carrot, broccoli stalk, bay leaves, chicken pieces.Cover the pan, and bring into boil.
Cook until chicken pieces are tender. Let it cool down a little. Remove it into a big bowl. 
In the same sauce pan add the squash chunk, onion,tomato, and add sufficient water to just cover the vegetables. Bring into boil. Cook until the chunks are soft. Let it cool down.
Make a course paste in a blender.
Take another sauce pan, heat oil into medium high.
Add ginger-garlic powder. Add asparagus, mushrooms.
Mix well, and cook, covering the pan.
In the meantime, scoop the chicken pieces out of the stock, shred, and add with asparagus and mushrooms.
Strain the stock in a container, and keep aside.
Pour the stock into the pan. Mix well
Pour the squash paste into the pan. 
Add wine vinegar, salt. Mix well. Bring into boil. 
Simmer it. Cook until desired consistency reaches. 
Divide the soup into five bowl. Sprinkle oregano, and chili flakes. Serve hot.



Monday, October 2, 2017

A super busy Sunday

You know past few weeks I was talking about 5K run on 1st October. I did practice, still I couldn’t raise my stamina. Lastly I decided I would run, as far as possible, then I would walk. 


Anyway, it was cold Sunday morning. We woke up very early, as we had to reach the venue early, to get a good parking spot. We all three participated in the very event. When we reached the venue , many participants already reached there. We actually participated in the 5K fun run/walk. Though we three started together, father-son passed me very fast. I took my own time, though I never stopped. Sometimes I ran, and when I couldn’t make it , I walked very fast. I finished 5K in 40 minutes. My son finished in 38 minutes, his dad finished in 30 minutes. Then our run was over, we took some time to visit all booths, my son collected a good amount of toys, notepad, pens. I collected the ice packs, which are very helpful. 


After coming back my day started. I really couldn’t believe myself, that I did so many jobs, after 5k run in the morning. My son, wanted to eat biryani for along time. Biryani is a delicacy all over the Indian sub-continent. Most of the people love to eat biryani. I don’t know whether I can tell it is kind of fried rice or not. However, there are many differences in cooking these two dishes. Later I’ll try to post the recipe the biryani I usually cook. Cooking biryani is elaborate process. Specially, if you want to cook the dish with the kind of meat, which takes time to be cooked. The father-son duo loves only goat meat biryani. Goat meats are usually available in the Mediterranean grocery stores. Anyway, to cook goat meat biryani, I had to marinate the goat meat in the previous night. 


I’m talking about only biryani. I should tell you why the sunday was  super busy. As soon as I enter the home, I rushed to the kitchen. Not only I cooked biryani, I made two more sweets also. I’m from the eastern part of India, and we celebrate Durga Puja, which usually takes place for four days during this time. On the last day of the puja we usually eat some sweet, and meet other people, share sweets. After cooking biryani, I made two sweets, and both usually take quite a time to make. I finished all kind of cooking around 1:30. Then we had a late lunch with savory biryani. 

This sweet is called "Malpoa", it is batter made out of milk, flour, little sugar and green cardamom powder . Then little scoops are deep fried in oil. After that, they are dipped in sugar syrup.


No, the day didn’t end there. Then we went to meet one of our relatives, who live nearby. I won’t say nearby, because that was 30 miles drive. I packed some of the sweets I made and went to their house. After coming back from there, we took kiddie to a creative writing class. This was also fund raising event run by the high school kids.

The second sweet is very much like crepes 


Anyway, we had one hour time in our hand. So, we went to SportsBasement to buy Mr. Man’s running shoe. When we finished there, it was time to pick the little one. Our next plan was to buy Halloween costume for him. However, we found out that 7 o’clock was the store closing time. To my great relief we came back home. 

Lots of jabbering, huh? *smile* 






Monday, September 25, 2017

Watermelon rind curry

My sister once told me about watermelon rind curry. She told me that, one of her friends told her that, watermelon rind can be used as a vegetable, and the curry can be tasty. Her friend learned that recipe from her mother-in-law. It is long chain, huh? Anyway, when I went to stay with my sister, she wanted to cook that curry specially for me. However,the watermelon she bought had rind of orange rind like thickness. So, she couldn’t make that curry for me. After coming back from there, one day, while I was cutting watermelon, I got very thick rind from that very watermelon. I promptly called my sister  for the recipe. She told me, but I didn’t have prawn in my refrigerator. She suggested me replacing prawn with soy nuggets. You can you use prawn or ground chicken, or soy nuggets. If you want to use soy nuggets, you can get them any Indian store. 
Anyway, here is the recipe.


Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Fish egg fritter curry

Fish egg curry is one of the famous delicacy from eastern part of India. However, who never have never seen the fish egg, to him/her it can appear very gross. Fish egg looks very slimy , and blackish. The feeling while mixing it, may not be very pleasant. But, believe me, the cooked curry is so tasty, you will crave for it after having the cooked curry. Here, in the USA getting all the ingredients can be a little difficult. You need to go to some particular store to find the ingredients. Just like getting fish egg, you have to any grocery shop from Bangladesh. I’ve one Bangladeshi shop near my home. One day Mr. Man went there, and came with a packet of frozen fish egg. Truly speaking, though I love to eat fish egg curry, but I don’t like to cook it. 

Monday, September 18, 2017

Chicken in bell pepper gravy

The weather has stared getting cooler, the sun shine has started getting softer, that means falls  is coming. I’m eager to decorate my home with pumpkins, maple leaves, cornucopia, scarecrows, and many more. But, alas! Still now the end of remodeling  job is far away. My rest of the house is a dumping ground now. 

Friday, September 15, 2017

My love for candle

Two weeks back, the weather crazily hot. On the top of the air condition machine was disconnected due to the remodeling works, (still it is disconnected, at the time writing this post). To get rid of the heat, we went to the local mall. I din’t have anything to buy. We bought iced coffee and sat back on a cozy couch in the mall. However, going to a mall, and coming back in empty hand is little bit wired , correct? Although, I do that often, rather I go to the mall very rare. On the top of that, Bath and Body Works was giving a crazy sale on candles. I love the sweet aromas of the candle, and also the coziness. After buying candles from various shops now I always buy candles from this very store.

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Visit to Indian National Museum, Kolkata

While visiting India I took my son to Indian Museum in Kolkata as I promised him earlier this year. He loves to visit any kind of museum, except fine arts museum. 

Entrance of Indian Museum

Friday, September 8, 2017

Five on Friday

Monday:

 Today was the last day of the long weekend. After a unbearable hot week, we at last got a comparatively cooler Monday. We were extremely tired of heat, so we rested almost the whole entire day. 


Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Experience of a unbearably hot weekend

I’ve never experienced such hot week in California ever. Even temperature in San Francisco recorded 91. It has all started from beginning of the week. Monday was very hot and was unbearable. Tuesday was ok. From Wednesday it started soaring up. Friday evening, we went to the mall to cool off. We took some cold coffee from Starbucks and slouched back on a couch inside the mall. I bought a pretty good amount of candles from Bath and Body Works. This is the side effect of going to mall. *smile*

Saturday, September 2, 2017

Five on Friday

Monday: 


Today was extremely hot. I kept my car on the driveway as the garage was packed with the things from the bedrooms and bathrooms, due to the remodeling work. The temperature soared up. I had no option to cool down my house, as the AC was disconnected for the work. When I went to the car in the afternoon car temperature was 119. This heat made very, very tired. I could not do much of my works.

Oranges are goring in the backyard

Friday, August 25, 2017

Five one Friday

Since I went to India, I didn’t contribute on “Five on Friday” which I used to enjoy a lot to do. After I came back from India , every Friday morning I decided to write down the tidbit of the five days, but  always I ended up not doing that. So, today I’ve decided to write down the all the mundane of this week.


Monday: 
As soon as I decided to write down about the week, I forgot what I did on Monday. I think I didn’t do much things on Monday. However, one important things is that , again I started my workout, after almost 4 months gap. I’m planning to participate in 5K marathon in first week of October. So, I have only one month to prepare myself.

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Walking across Golden Gate Bridge

We were thinking of going hiking somewhere. Mr. Man wanted to go somewhere in San Francisco. Whatever, trail I suggested, he just dismissed all of them stating those are very easy to hike. At last he suggested walking across Golden Gate Bridge. We crossed the bridge numerous times by car, but never on foot. So, Mr. Man wanted to get that experience, though I was not that much kin to do that. 


Saturday, August 19, 2017

Visit to Valley Forge National Historic park

When my sister told me that we could visit somewhere near King of Prussia, I wrote down some of the places near King of Prussia, and one of the place was Valley Forge National Historic park. When we reached there we realized the vastness of the place, and understood that it could be difficult see all the places situated only inside the valley, other places were out of question.

Monday, August 14, 2017

Mom's garden- A memoir

The garden is still there, though it has lost its old glory. Sitting on the seal of the backyard door in my parents’ house where I grew up, I had been thinking about the garden which used to see as a child. Many memories started flooding my mind. When we shifted to that very house, the place was still developing, and we sisters were little. The soil was very fertile.

The house where I grew up

Tuesday, August 8, 2017

Walking in Bellvue state park

It was another lazy afternoon, we were sitting on the couch and planning to go somewhere. However, whatever places we wanted to go, all of them were on the verge of closing for the day, even the mall.

 

Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Visit to Bushkill Falls

It was totally an unplanned visit to my sister’s place in Philadelphia. So, I didn’t have time to research about the places to visit in Philadelphia. Though I’ve found about Pocono Mountains, but, neither I researched in detail nor I took much interest in it.