MY 200th POST & MY 20th WEEK

Hi All.......

This would be my 200th post and for those who havnt caught up with the news ,I'am 20 weeks pregnant. It's a BOY!!!......

Am loving this whole pregnancy thing.....Getting as much sleep/food as you want, getting all kind of attention from my dear hubby/parents, with the baby moving inside once in a couple of hours, feeling happy looking over and over at the ultrasound pictures, haaa all that is a real fun one shouldnt miss.

First of all, It was a planned one. I found out that I was pregnant on April 18th '09 with a home-pregnancy kit. This just happened two days before my 25th B'day ie: April 20th. I was just 6 weeks then. Not knowing this,Just a couple of weeks earlier I invited over few common friends(around 12) to my place for my B'day(it was on 19th evening). Me and my hubby were so excited about this pregnancy thing and planned to tell our parents on my B'day. The evening went well with all the ladies chit-chatting inside and men BBq'ing in the patio. I couldn't stop thinking over to tell my parents while i was with them. I didn't want them to know about this before our parents knew. Later had our dinner..The menu was: My BBQ chicken, Grilled CornCob, Haldirams snack pack, My Bagara rice, My Palakura pappu,My Kadhai Bhindi, Hubby's Awesome Chicken curry, Hubby's Mutton Curry, My Pappu Charu, Hubby's Raita, My Fruit Salad . A few hours later,around 12' O clock i cut a cake. They all left after half-an-hour and I was eagerly waiting for my parents call .We couldn't sleep till 2 in the morning.I thought maybe they would call and wish me in the morning. But they didn't. It was sooo frustrating.We both went to the temple and had dinner along another couple at PFchang. Again I was waiting for their call....i couldnt sleep....unable to withhold my emotions, i made a call at around 10.30PM . It was my brother this time. It was 11.00Am in India.

Bro:Hello!! Haa Akka tell me...How r u?? Happy B'day akka!!!

Me:Thank you!! Hey how stupid you guys dont even care to call me even though u remember it was my B'day...Wheres maa and daddy???Give them the phone.

Bro:Maa and daddy both are sleeping. I will ask them to give a call in the morning. Ok.

Me: What???Sleeping at this time of the day??? Comeon no prb if they are sleeping...Wake them up...

After few seconds.....

Bro: Maa said she will talk to you later...she's in deep sleep.And daddy too.

I didnt believe what he was saying...I felt sth was going on....i could hear my maa talking to dad.

Me: No problem...comeon dont try to fool me ...i know she is fine...i could hear her and dad over the phone..

Bro: Maa.....Akka on the line.

Maa: Haa Raju...How are u??Its 11.00 am here, Isn't it too late for u there....

Me:What maa..why is that nobody cared to wish me on my B'day??? not even dad..

Maa: Haa hello raju...Hello.....what did u say???Hello....i cant hear u nana....i will call you in the evening...ok.

I didn't find any disturbance over the line...she sounded soo gloomy to me...not much of an excitement in her tone that always accompanies her..still i was waiting for their blessings...

Me:(witha curious tone) Maa...I could hear u properly...Whats the matter....You all dont sound soo good...Is everything fine ..comeon tell me...

Maa: (Witha harsh tone)haa...what?? what r u talking about??nothing of that kind...everyones fine...haa sorry raa...happy b'day.

Her words made me think...whats going on???I couldnt say anything else except for hanging up without sharing the wonderful news with them..We both were quite worried thinking of what might have happened. Two days passed. There were no calls from both the sides. At last I called my mom thinking everythig might have been ok. But there was no to answer. I was even more worried. After two days my mom called me.

Me: Hello maa..where have u guys been???i tried to call you several times. Arn't you at home??

Maa: Haa raju...we wen to your grandpa's(mom's dad) village for 2 days. Everybody(my uncles/aunts) gathered there aftera very long time. just for a change.

Me: Why was that all of a sudden??? You've been there last month too right...

Maa: haa but this time everone was coming over...so thought this would be good. thats it. So hows everything?? how's R??

Me: He's fine...listening to our conversaation right now...He says he wants to talk to dad...Is dad there...

Maa:Haa..wait..

R:Hello mamayya..hows everthing going...

Dad:Hello R......(they cover everything from politics,current market trends, housing market to movies)At last he cracks the goodnews to my dad...Both of us talked to mom and dad for around 20-25 mins. They were happy about this...immediately R calls our in-laws to share the same news....They were even more excited about this...Finally I was totally relieved of this burden.

But exactly after 2 weeks i came to know that my Uncle's(moms elder bro) Younger daughter kiran had passed away on 19th. She was diagnosed in May '08 with some kind of cancer at the age of 22, just months after her marriage. Doctors wer'nt sure what it was. A small spreadable lump was developing on her back ,which got even worse after repeated operations.Even after several chemotheraphy sittings we couldnt get her back. I still couldnt imagine she left us all. Whenever I think of her I always get the feeling that she's living happily just as everyone of us are.

MICROWAVE BESAN LADOO

This was something I was thinking of to make ever since I saw Srivalli's laddoo. I bookmarked it so that i could try whenever I crave for something sweet. So finally today felt like giving it a shot as I wanted to offer something on this first Sravana shukravaram(friday).I didnt know making ladoo would be such a fun and easy job.

INGREDIENTS: Makes 10-12 medium sized ladoos

Besan/Chickpea flour-------------------1 cup of standard measuring cup
Fine granulated Sugar-------------------1/2 cup

Ghee--------------------------------------6-8 tbp melted or more
Cardamom powder----------------------1/2 tsp
Cashews/Raisins-------------------------For decorating

DIRECIONS:

1.Mix Besan and melted Ghee in a microwave safe bowl well till incorporated and microwave on high for 5-6 minutes dpending on ur MW.

2.Keep stirring in between after every minute.Once it crosses the first 4 mins be sure to check it for every 30 secs.

3.The end product should usually be a nice light brown mixture with a nice aroma. The mixture should not dry like powder, otherwise the ladoos will not hold up their shape. Let it cool completely.

4. Once cooled, add the sugar, cardamom powder and cashews/raisins. Mix well and make small round ladoos of your own size. Enjoy!!

NOTE:

If you are not able to form nice shaped laddoos then it means the ghee was not sufficient .So adjust accordingly and try.

You can replace ghee with unsalted butter too.

DOSAKAI PAPPU/ DAL

INGREDIENTS:

Toor Dal----------------------------------------------3/4 Cup of standard measuring cup

Dosakai/Round Indian Yellow Cucumber---------2 cut into medium size pieces separating the seeds
Note: Seeds to be mixed with 1/2cup water and squeezed enough to extract the sourness. This water used instead of tamarind to get sour taste to the dish

Jalapenos---------------------------------------------3-4

Onion-------------------------------------------------1/2 of medium one chopped

Tomato-----------------------------------------------1 medium one

Garlic pods-------------------------------------------4 chopped and crushed

Coriander Powder------------------------------------1 tsp

Dry red chilli-----------------------------------------3-4

Cumin,Mustard Seeds------------------------------1 tsp each

Curry leaves-----------------------------------------few

Oil----------------------------------------------------4 tbp

DIRECTION:

1.Peel the skin of cucumber, Cut in half, Scoop off the excess seeds(can use few in dal), Cut to medium to big sized pieces(taste a small piece to see if bitter).

2. In a Pressure cooker cook the dal with 2 cups of water, turmeric,Jalepenos until soft for 2-3 whistles.

3.Add 3 tbp of oil and add Cumin seeds,Mustard seeds, dry red chillis, Garlic ,curry leaves and saute for a mins.

3.Now add chopped onions ,little salt and saute for 3-5mins ,then add cut pieces,chopped tomatoes and cook until its not raw with some salt .

4.Add the cooked dal, water extracted from seeds, chopped coriander  and cook on medium flame till the pieces are thoroughly cooked for 7-8mins. The dal tastes good if the pieces are not cooked till soft .

NOTE: If Dosekai is bitter theres no chance of using it in the dal. select ones that are not mature and soft enough.They become quite soggy when cooked.

There are two ways of cooking this dal: 1. Pressure cook dal and cucumber together with rest of the ingredients. Sometimes the cucumber becomes too soft and hard to find them in the dal.

2.Cook Cucumber and tomatoes with some salt till 3/4th cooked, then add in the pressure cooked dal+rest of ingredients, and and simmer low for 8-10 mins. This way i can see and taste some cucumber in the dal

Sending this to State Special Event.

BHARVAN BHINDHI

INGREDIENTS:

Okra-------------------------------20-25 fresh
Onion-----------------------------1 sliced thinly
Jalapenos-------------------------2 chopped finely
Dry Red chillies-------------------2
Garlic------------------------------3 pods crushed
Cumin&Mustard Seeds-----------1/2 tsp each
Oil----------------------------------2 tbp

For stuffing:

Chana dal-------------------------1/3 cup of standard measuring cup(dry roast)
Coconut powder------------------2 tbp
Cumin Seeds---------------------1 tbp roasted
Garlic------------------------------3 pods roasted
Red chilli powder-----------------1-1/2tsp
Coriander powder----------------1 tbp
Garam Masala--------------------1/2 tsp
Lemon juice-----------------------1 tbp
Oil----------------------------------2 tbp

DIRECTIONS:

1.Wash okra , dry with paper towel and make a slit in the middle and keep aside.

2.Grind all the ingredients under ' For stuffing' section to a powder( except oil and lemon juice ).

After making a powder transfer 2/3rd powder to a small mixing bowl and add oil and lemon juice and mix well.

3.Add some water if required to make a smoothe paste and stuff each okra with it and Place all the stuffed okras in a steamer or idli plates. Cook them for 8-10 min.

4.Now heat oil in a wide pan ,add cumin seeds , musturd seeds , dry red chillis , garlic , green chillis and onions.

5.Sautee till onions are cooked for like 5-8 min and then add steamed okras.Cook them without lid ,on low flame for 15 min until well roasted.

6.Keep mixing in between .Finally sprinkle the remaining 1/3rd of the stuffing powder,some salt , mix well and cook for another 5 min.

7.Turn off ,serve hot with roti , or rice.

PINEAPPLE FRIED RICE

INGREDIENTS:

Cold Cooked Rice--------------------3 cups
Pineapple chunks--------------------1 cup
Carrot Pieces ,Peas------------------1/4 cup each
Onion-------------------------------1 small one finely chopped
Spring onion------------------------2 finely chopped
Jalapenos---------------------------2 finely chopped
Garlic pods--------------------------3 finely chopped and crushed
Cashews/raisins--------------------1 tsp each(optional)
Soy sauce---------------------------2 tsp
Oil----------------------------------3 tbp + 1 tsp

DIRECTIONS:

1.Seperate the refrigerated cooked rice grains with hand by using 1tsp of oil and set aside.

2. Heat oil in frying pan and add cashews/raisins, chopped Jalapenos, Carrots, Peas, chopped onions, chopped white part of spring onion, crushed garlic and saute till onions are done.

3. Now add soy sauce and saute for a minute. Then add the rice, pineapple chunks, enough salt.

4. Stir-fry over medium-high heat for about 3-5 minutes.Remove from heat.

5.Garnish with chopped coriander leaves, chopped green part of spring onions and tsp of lime juice.

SPICY CHICKEN MASALA CURRY

INGREDIENTS:

Chicken cleaned and washed--------------2 lbs
Chilli Powder------------------------------2-1/2 tsp adjust
Turmeric---------------------------------1 tsp
Ginger Garlic Paste-----------------------1-/2 tsp
Salt---------------------------------------to taste
Oil----------------------------------------3 tbp + 2 tbp
Onion-------------------------------------1 big one
Tomatoes---------------------------------2 big ones

To dry roast and make fine powder:

Coriander Seeds---------------------------1 tbp
Peppercorns-------------------------------1 tsp
Cumin seeds-------------------------------1 tsp
Cloves--------------------------------------6
Cardommon-------------------------------2
Cinnamon---------------------------------2" stick
Cashewnuts-------------------------------8-10

DIRECTIONS:

1.Marinate the Chicken in Chilli powder,Turmeric, Ginger-garlic paste, Salt for about 30 mins.

2.While the chicken pieces are marinating, make the powder as per the ingredients listed under the first section and set aside.

3.Heat 2 tbsps of oil and add the onions and saute till done for about 8 mins on medium heat. Then add the coarsely chopped tomatoes and let it cook for 8-10 mins.Turn off heat. Cool , grind and Keep aside.

4. Heat 3 tbsps oil and add the marinated chicken and cook on high flame for 6-8 minutes, then reduce the heat and cook covered for another 6-8 minutes.

5. Now add the ground paste, ground powder,enough salt and combine well. Add 1-1/2 cup of water or more and cook covered.

6.Cook till chicken pieces are done and you get the desired curry consistency.Turn off and garnish with fresh coriander leaves.