Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Tassajara One room school visit

In the era of smart phone, cutting edge technology, a one room school house  which was a learning center for children is really an amazing fact  that hard to believe. We cannot even imagine children from grade one to grade eight are sitting in the one small classroom and studying. When we can reach from one part of the world to the other part within 24 hours,  traveling few miles was an event and as well as nightmare in bad weather two hundred years ago. 

Friday, May 26, 2017

Five on Friday

Monday: 
Since last Thursday I stopped  walking in the morning. Today morning I fought of going, but it was already hot around 8:30 in the morning. So, I abandoned my plan for morning walk. I came back home. I had a piles of jobs to be finished at home.
Those who are following me already know, we are going to remodel our home. Anyway, I almost finished moving things from the three bedrooms and bathrooms today. I left few of the essential things , which I would move later.




Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Mother's day at Pier 1

Few weeks back  before Mother’s Day,I received one mail from Pier 1. They were going to hold an event to celebrate Mother’s Day just a week before the Mother’s Day. When I read the letter, I became very interested going for the event. It was going to be held on May 6th , the previous Saturday of Mother’s Day weekend. I enrolled my name for the event. Almost everyday I reminded myself about the event, until Saturday morning. That Saturday was very busy unlike other Saturday. In the morning I rushed to Home Depot with my kid for the Kid’s Workshop which is usually held first Saturday of every month. 

Friday, May 19, 2017

Five on Friday

Monday: 
After a lovely fun-filled weekend, the Monday started with its as usual pace. Beside doing usual job, now I had another tedious job on me. 

Monday, May 15, 2017

Celebrating Mother's Day and eating out

First, I want to tell you Happy Mother’s Day to all Mom’s, though I’m way late to wish. Actually, yesterday when I tried to transfer the photos from my phone, for some unknown reason I couldn’t transfer them. So, I couldn’t upload yesterday. 

Friday, May 12, 2017

Five on Friday

Monday: 


Today was as usual a very busy day. On the top of that I had go to eye doctor. I had an appointment at 11:30. Finishing all the works within 11:30 was tough. When I finished everything it was already 11:00. I took a quick shower and rushed to the doctor’s office. I was under the impression that I had an appointment on Monday. I entered the office panting, and told the receptionist that I had an appointment. She couldn’t find out any scheduled appointment. Then she found that I had and appointment on Tuesday. What a bummer!!! So, I came back home. As I finished every chores already, I had plenty of time in my hand. So, I sat down to sew a bag from old jeans, which one of friends requested to make for her.


Friday, May 5, 2017

Five on Friday

Monday:


Till yesterday the weather was really fine. It was not at all cold, but pleasantly warm. We two worked a lot in our backyard, from planting to cleaning up pool. However, Mr. Sun had other idea in his mind.Today, since morning he had been blazing. I woke up 5:30 in the morning, and could feel that it already stared heating up outside. When I took my son to school, it was really hot. After a long time I went walking after dropping him to school. To avoid heat, I didn’t waste time in school chatting with other moms. Right after dropping him, I went to walk. Still I came back really burring. Rest of the day was more or less same. I finished a long list of chores.

Can you find me out?

Tuesday, May 2, 2017

Thai style chicken

I’m calling it Thai style chicken, though many of the ingredients of Thai yellow curry are missing in this recipe. I didn’t have lemon grass in kitchen. Also I didn’t use shrimp paste. I neither used oyster sauce nor soy sauce nor fish sauce. In fact I din’t keep fish sauce in my pantry. Somehow I cannot stand the smell of fish sauce, though I love Thai food. I think after cooking the it don’t smell so strong. For me it is difficult use fish sauce, as I cannot stand the strong smell.


My Kaffir lime tree is growing profusely, and the beautiful fresh smell of the leaves tempting me to use them in my cooking. Past few day I was feeling strongly to use the leaves in chicken.  So, I ended up 


One pound boneless skinless chicken(I used thigh meat, you can you great meat also)


One medium sized onion

One  medium sized Tomato

One tbsp. ginger paste

Three-four cloves of garlic

One dry red chili (Optional)

Pinch of turmeric powder

Two tsp. coriander powder

One tsp. cumin powder

One tbsp. lime juice

Two kaffir lime leaves 

Salt to taste

One cup whole milk (if you have coconut milk, that will work better)

Oil for frying 



Wash the boneless chicken, and dry with kitchen towel. Cut it into medium sized pieces, mix with salt,and keep aside. Cut the onion and tomato into big chunk. Peel the garlic cloves. In the pan heat one tbsp of oil into medium. Add onion, tomato, garlic into oil. Slightly sauté , and turn off the stove. In a mixer, put all the sautéed ingredients, along with the ginger paste, coriander powder, cumin powder. Make a fine paste. Heat two tbsp. of oil in a heavy bottomed wok into medium. Add the spice paste, stir it well, cover the wok, and let it cook. Cook the spices about 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, to avoid scorching on the bottom. When oil starts oozing out from the  spices, add the chicken pieces. Mix well, and let it cook. Do not add water. Cover the wok, and let it cook under low medium heat. Water will ooze out from chicken, and it will cook under its own water. Let it cook about 10-15 minutes. If it starts sticking on the  bottom, scrape it, and add two cups of water, and also the lime juice and salt. Cut the lime leaves into pieces, and add into it. Cover the wok, and let it cook until chicken are fully cooked. Check time to time. If you find chicken is done, then increase the heat to dry up into thick gravy. Lower the heat to low-medium, and add one cup of milk, and cook in low medium heat until desired consistency reaches. After adding milk, do not increase the heat to avoid curdling of milk. 
Serve hot with steaming rice.