Getting to know me blog hop

Hello there creative people!

A very warm welcome to my blog. Finally here I am with the getting to know me post :). Its a amazing blog hop going around in the blog space to bring the crafty people together. I am so glad to be tagged a the lovely Jasleen of Happily Ever Crafter. Jasleen is such a darling friend,I am simple amazed by her creative take on CAS cards..which is definitely not my forte. She pulls off the CAS cards so gracefully with the clean and crisp execution and creativity in highlighting the aspects in her cards. Do visit her space and get inspired by her creations! I am sure you will love them as much as I do :)

I am deviating from the standard question and answer format..will let the pictures do most of the talking :)

I am Lavina from mumbai, staying in Sydney. I am a software engineer by prof, wife to a wonderful DH and mom to a loving 3 year old angel.

I started blogging as a way to preserve my crafty creations online so that I can access them anytime. .but little did I know that it was a can of worms!!!(p.s. I love every bit of it ;))) . I started this blog when I had conceived my little one, so it is very much a baby to me.

It has been a joyous ride with its ups and downs. But slowly the creating and blogging has become so much a part of me that instead of creating something and then posting, it seems like some times I create something because I wanna blog about them! Just love the whole process and the encouragement I get from your sweet comments.

I got to know so many lovely people creating and cooking such beautiful stuff. .I juggle between my crafting and cooking interests ..also involving my little one in these activities. ..its so much fun and builds a deeper bond between us:)

I find my inspiration from everything beautiful around me..all the lovely ideas in pinterest and my awesome fellow bloggers! 

Some of the crafty creations with my little one

Pallet tickling recipes 

Scrapbook layouts

Cards and Quilling projects

I would like to tag dear Sindhu of Colors of my crafty world. She too has a mixed bag consisting of some amazing pop up cards, recylcled crafts, children school projects, CAS cards, crochet and a lot more.  Her ideas are very innovative like the handmade playmat, tic tac toe, pen stands with photo frame! Do check her space to witness her wonderful creations!

PoP name plate for little miss from her massi's :)

Hi friends

Sharing with you a lovely name plate made by my sisters for my little one..My three younger sisters made this using plaster of paris..I just loved it!

Do let me know how you liked it
 

Handmade Rakhi | Felt Rakhi | Kids Origami Pinwheel Rakhis

 

Hi there..crafty people..hope you are having fun in your life!

Sharing with you some cute pinwheel rakhi that me and my little one made for her brothers! They are damn simple and fast to make. Here is how we made these:

 

Material needed:

Coloured felt/ fleece

Hand made paper

colourful ribbons

Buttons/beads

Glue gun

Glitter

 

Procedure:

1.Cut the card board in small circle for the base of the rakhi. I used a scallop punch for cutting my base.

2. Cut the different felt into square shape around 2 inch in length.

3. Cut slit on the square felt from each corner. Leave some space in the centre.

4. Fold the corners and bring them to the centre (origami pinwheel), stick the corners in the centre using glue gun or other glue.

5. Stick a button on the centre. Now stick this pinwheel on the card and stick the ribbon. Let the rakhi dry.

6. Decorate it with glitter as you please :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sending this to:

http://www.hobbymela.com/contest/ - Rakhi

http://www.artsycraftsymom.com/artsy-craftsy-july-2014-challenge-rakhi-special/

Here are some other rakhi and rakhi card that I made, hope it inspires you this festive season to create a bond of love for your loved ones.

Quilled Rakhis


Quilled Ganeshji and lumba rakhi


Rakhi card


Quilled rakhi and card

Anecdote - Peace in the midst of turmoil

 

There once was a king who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried and submitted their work. The king looked at all the pictures. There were only two he really liked, and he had to choose between them.

One picture was of a calm lake, perfectly mirroring the peaceful, towering mountains all around it. Overhead was blue sky with fluffy, white clouds. It was the favorite of all who saw it. Truly, they thought, it was the perfect picture of peace.
The other picture had mountains, too, but these were rugged and bare.
Above was an angry sky from which rain fell and in which lightening played. Down the side of one mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. A less peaceful picture would be difficult to imagine. But when the king looked closely, he saw beside the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush a mother bird had built her nest. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird on her nest in perfect peace.

Which picture would you have selected? The king chose the second picture. Do you know why?

“Because,” explained the king, “peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all these things and still be calm in your heart. This is the real meaning of peace.”

Kids art - Tissue paper confetti

 

Stuff you need to make this simple craft with your little one:

White contact paper

Radom tissue paper cuttings

 

The contact paper has adhesive sticker on one side. Peel off the sticker and let your little one create a master piece with lovely tissue paper confetti ..as simple as that..and lotts of fun :)

 

 

Cabbage and Methi Muthia (Cabbage and fenugreek dumplings) | Gujrati Cusine | Healthy Recipe | Kids Delight

Muthias are steamed dumplings which is a good low fat snack which can be served at breakfast time or can be served as a tea time snack. I wanted to try this for a long time. I was introduced to this yummy and healthy snack after my marriage.
My MIL made it. I wanted to make the lauki muthi but that kept postponing. Finally made the cabbage and methi muthias..loved the result. Do try this yummy and healthy snack.
The yummy recipe is from here and here.

Ingredients:
4 cups grated Cabbage
1/2 cup Besan(Chickpea flour)
2 tbsp Whole wheat flour
2 tbsp semolina
2 tbps jowar flour
1 tsp Green chili paste (optional)
1 tsp grated Ginger
1 tsp Carom seeds(ajwain,optional)
1 cup chopped methi (you can use 2 tsp Kasuri methi instead)
1/2 tsp Cumin seeds
1/4 tsp Turmeric powder
 tsp Lemon juice Salt(or pinch of citric acid)
half tsp eno (or a pinch of Cooking soda)
1 tbsp Oil (optional)
1/2 tsp Sugar
Salt to taste
1 tbsp Curd

For the tempering:
Mustard seeds-1 tsp
Sesame seeds-1 tsp
Asafoetida-1/4 tsp
Dried Red chilli/Green chilli-4
Curry leaves-10
Oil-3 tbsp
Coriander leaves,to garnish
2 tsp grated coconut for garnish (optional)

Method:
Take the grated cabbage in a bowl. Add all the rest of the ingredients(except the ingredients for tadka) and mix until it forms a very soft dough like texture.The water from cabbage would be enough to make the dough,if you need you can sprinkle some water to make it to a smooth dough,softer than the roti dough.If your dough becomes very soft add a couple of tbsp of besan to it and mix well. Make small oblong balls with the dough and place them on a greased steamer and steam them for about 20 mins. I did not have a stove steamer, so used my microwave idli maker to steam the muthia. I was not sure if it would work, but glad it did solve the purpose very well :)
To check it whether its done use the toothpick method.Just prick them with the tooth pick,if it comes out clean then it is done otherwise it needs to be cooked for longer time.
Let them cool completely. Cut them into bite sized pieces and keep them ready for the tadka.
Heat oil in a nonstick pan and crackle mustard seeds.Add the slit green chillies,red chilies and fry them together.Add curry leaves and sesame seeds and let them splutter.
Once the seeds start to splutter add the cut dumplings and reduce the flame to low and toast them for about 7-8 mins stirring often so that all sides gets crispy.
Garnish with Coriander leaves and grated coconut.
Serve them hot/warm with Green chutney, dates chutney or ketchup.

Variations:
1.Cabbage Kababs - You can deep fry the dumplings after slicing and serve as cabbage kababs.or just make fritters with this mixture without steaming the dumplings.
2.Cabbage Kofta -  Make a tomato or curd based gravy or onion-tomato gravy and add these muthiyas in it just before serving.
3.Cabbage Dahi Vada - Arrange muthiya in a dish and pour whipped salted curd over it, sprinkle red chilli powder, roasted cumin powder, sweet chutney and green chutney and serve as cabbage dahi vada.
4.Cabbage Appe -  Make cabbage appe, in a appe maker with the same mixture.
5.Low Fat Snack - Slice muthiyas and add lemon juice and fresh coriander and serve with ketchup.
6. Cabbage pakoda kadhi - You can add these to curd and chickpea kadhi.They taste nice in any of the forms.

Notes:
1. You can make muthiyas from cabbage, bottle gourd (Lauki), spinach (palak), fresh fenugreek leaves (methi), grated mix vegetables, left over dry khichdi (an Indian lentil and rice preparation) or even with left over vegetable pulao (mix vegetable rice).
2. If using Sweet Gourd (Lauki) then squeeze extra water from it after grating and if using pulao then mash the rice a little and add 1 tbls extra curd. into it.
3. Add a pinch of cooking soda as it will make the muthia soft and fluffy.You can even use 1/2 tsp eno(fruit salt) instead of  cooking soda.It is entirely optional.
4. It is good to add carom seeds when preparing anything with chickpea flour as it will yield in easy digestion.You can skip if you want.
5. You can also use jowar flour instead of besan(chickpea flour) for a healthy option.
6. You can replace kasuri methi with the freshly chopped fenugreek leaves.

Sending this to:

dishes recipe hosted by Full scoops and Priya’s versatile recipes 

, Walk through memory lane event by Sapana and Gayathri

    

http://accessiblediary.blogspot.in/2014/06/event-announcement-and-giveaway.html

Kid delight event : Iron rich food by http://spicingyourlife.blogspot.com.au/2010/01/announcing-kids-delight-wholesome.html
hosted by www.sizzlingtastebuds.com/2014/06/event-hosting-giveaway-iron-rich-foods.html

http://cooking4allseasons.blogspot.in/2014/06/come-join-us-for-breakfast-june-event.html

Malai Kofta

 GREDIENTS-
For Malai kofta-


Ingredients:
For The Kofta:
Paneer-100 gm (i used home made paneer)
Potato-2
Corn Flour-1 tsp (I used 1.5 bread slice, soak it in water, squeeze and use instead of corn flour)
Cashew,chopped-2 tsp
Raisins,chopped-2 tsp
Corn starch- 2.5 tbsp
Cardamom powder-1/4 tsp
Green chilies-1 tsp
Saffron -1/4 tsp
Garam masala-1/2 tsp
Chili powder-1/2 tsp
Fresh coriander,chopped-2 tsp
Pepper powder-1/4 tsp
Salt- to taste

Oil-To Fry

For gravy-

    Tomatoes-5
    Cashew nuts-1/4 cup
    Fresh cream-1/2 cup
    Green chilies-2
    Ginger- 1inch
    Sugar-1 tsp
    Chili powder-1.5 tsp
    Turmeric powder-1/2 tsp
    Salt- to taste
    Kasoori methi -1 tsp
    Fenugreek seed-pinch of
    Cardamom powder-1/3 tsp
    Clove powder - a pinch
    Bay leaves-2
    Cinnamon  -1/2 inch
    Garam masala-3/4 tsp
    Fresh coriander-2 tsp

Procedure:
For Koftas:
For making mixture:
In a big bowl mash together 3 boiled potatoes,1/2 cup paneer,salt,chili powder,corn flour/bread, chopped fresh coriander and garam masala,mix wel .
For making the filling:
In a separate bowl, take 1/2 cup paneer(mash and make it smooth),chopped cashew pieces,chopped raisins, saffron(soaked in 1/2 tsp of warm milk),cardamom powder,pepper powder and pinch of salt and mix well.-filling
Take a small portion from the mixture and flatten it and then stuff it with a small ball made with the filling and then roll and make round balls from it.
Alternately you can mix everything together and form balls.
Roll the balls in dry corn flour/rice flour and then dust off the extra corn flour. Heat oil in a deep pan and deep fry the koftas till golden in colour. Drain on a tissue paper and keep aside.

For gravy:
Boil  the tomatoes and then grind with 2 green chilies and ginger. Soak cashew nuts in warm water for 15 minutes and then drain the water and grind cashews to make a smooth paste. Heat 2 tbsp oil+1tbsp of butter in a pan and add bay leaves,cinnamon and a pinch of fenugreek seeds and fry for few seconds .Now add tomato puree and cook for approx 2-3 minutes, partially cover the pan with a lid to avoid splattering. Then add turmeric,chili powder,cardamom powder,clove powder(or 2 cloves) and cashew paste. Mix well and saute till the oil start seperating from the sides of the pan.
Now add approx 1.5  to 2 cups of water and let it simmer till it thickens,will take approx 10 minutes.
Add sugar,cream, garam masala and crushed kasoori methi.
Simmer  for a minute and then add chopped fresh coriander and 1 tsp butter
Just before serving arrange the hot koftas in the serving dish and pour the hot gravy over them.

 

Sending this to:

dishes recipe hosted by Full scoops and Priya’s versatile recipes 

, Walk through memory lane event by Sapana and Gayathri