S&S: Semolina Cake

While stepping down the stairs I saw that my living room was filled with brisk and crispy sunlight. “What a spectacular sunny morning! Isn’t warm, sugary treat with a glass of cold coffee and toasted bread slices would be a great Saturday morning breakfast”- I said to myself. My mouth knew exactly what it was salivating for - Semolina cake. Within few minutes I was ready in my kitchen with all baking gadgets and ingredients for recipe. I started the oven and set the temperature to 350⁰ F. After 15 min of preliminary preparation and sous-chef work my baking pan was in oven with semolina-yogurt batter.  I do not remember how and when I started my experiments with baking, but like a swirling-swooping-genie heavenly smells of baking delights have always cast a spell on me; Even sniffing around a bakery shop adds extra pounds to me. This cake is my favorite for two reasons. First, it is one of those quick-and-easy snacks. Second, you can make it both in sweet and salty flavors. Whenever I look for a new recipe, I prefer to watch a video. Videos gives you a better understanding of the whole process and are more close to “what it would be look alike” scenario. So here I am sharing the Anjum Anand’s video on how to prepare this cake. While I delight my senses with this savory treat you can watch this video.

B&V: Beads of my Rosary!

There is a very famous quote by Heraclitus -“You cannot step twice into the same stream."  I couldn’t agree more with this quote. Whenever I flash back down memory lane, there are some memories which I still cherish a lot - especially, from my childhood. I know childhood is one of the most precious and most memorable times of one’s life; this is the one phase of life which one doesn’t want to pass by.

 Whenever I think of childhood, I just want the time to come back. Alas! We can’t step back in time. Memories of making toys with olive-like drupes (Nimbori –fruit of Neem Tree) or counting the stars while lying on a charpoy in the night; imagining funny figures from clouds or playing hide and seek during electrical outages; making excuses for school or eating lunch in the class; asking Granny to repeat the same story a hundred times or dumping things deep in the ground with a hope that after some days I will find them a few feet away because the earth has moved. I remember, after reading “Gulliver’s Travels” I started to believe that deep inside the ground there exists a Lilliput; with this notion I used to dump my eraser, hairpin, pencil, sharpener and what not in the ground so that one day  people in Lilliput will get them and will come to talk to me. The thought of talking to a 6 inch man or woman used to amuse me a lot and it even amuses me today too - if they are from Lilliput . Eating a seed can grow a plant inside your stomach was another belief which used to scare me a lot.  Once I ate the seed of Ber (Zizyphus mauritiana) and throughout the evening I was asking my Mom how to get it out from my stomach. All these silly things and more make our childhood special.

Sometime I wonder should I consider today’s kids more lucky for all the comforts and gadgets and gizmos they have or ourselves for such exciting and joyful childhoods. Thanks to media exposure that kids are growing faster than their age. I do not know why there is this race to make them adults so fast. Don’t they have a right to have their innocence a little longer? I know it’s so hard to keep the kids away from all the bad things, but it is also true that one day they are going to cherish their childhoods like us but for different reasons.

Each memory of our childhood is like a bead of rosary which we like to count or recall again and again. Now, you might understand why the title of my post is “Beads of my rosary.” In upcoming days I am thinking of writing a few more post under this series - each time a new bead. Not sure, what and when I will post my next post; till then enjoy this and have a great day.

M&M : Shopping List for Mommy and Munchkin- II

While preparing for my baby registry, I was in a dilemma for certain items - whether to add them or not. Eventually, I added them to my registry, and I didn’t regret my decision. Here I am sharing my reasons for selecting those items.

 

Onesies: Generally, I have seen four kinds of onesies:

• Long-Sleeve Mitten-Cuffs 
  
• Long sleeve without mittens
• Short sleeve
• Sleeveless

 For initial three months, I decided to use mitten-cuff onesies for my son. These onesies were really comfortable for covering an infant’s hands. Beside that one doesn’t need to buy separate mittens. As per my friends, with separate mittens babies can take their hands out very easily. 

Sleep-and-playoutfit: I really admire the person who first designed them. Sleep-and-play outfits are my favorite for a number of reasons. First, my son born in the winters, so these outfits were perfect to cover him completely. Second, baby can slip inside them very easily. Third, these outfits are very comfortable for changing a baby’s diaper- you just unbutton the snaps. Last, you do not need to buy separate booties.

Again, there are two kinds of S&P outfits: one with titch-button snaps and other with zipper. If your baby is smart enough to pull out his leg from titch-button outfits then try with zipper. The only thing which I do not like about zipper is that one has to bend a baby’s leg to slip it in the suit which is quite uncomfortable for baby.

Baby gowns are another option if your baby born in summer.

Receiving blankets/Sleep-Sack: 

                                                              Receiving Blanket               

Our son didn’t like to swaddle, but we tried to swaddle him with receiving blankets and sleep-sack. I liked the sleep-sack better, as it made the swaddling easier. If you are planning to swaddle your baby then these are definitely worth some $$. Another advantage is that you do not need to cover your baby with a blanket while he/she is sleeping, so it reduces SID chances.

                                                                        Sleep Sack

Washcloths: Initially, I didn’t understand their use, but in spite of that I added them in my baby registry and I didn’t regret my decision. Now, I use them day in day out. Washcloths can be used for a variety of purposes: cleaning baby bottoms; wiping face, gums, and teeth. I bought a set of 12 wash cloths, and I am pretty happy with them.

Bulb Syringe/Nasal aspirator/Snot Sucker: A must have item. We got it from our hospital. It is used to clean the snot to ease the nasal congestion. Babies do not know how to breathe from their mouth. If they have nasal congestion, then it could become a life threatening situation. Check out the following link regarding Nasal aspirator use.

Glider Rocker: If you don’t want to walk the whole night holding your baby then this is a must have item.  Its motion really soothes the baby. We have been using our glider since day one. Now, my son is nine months old and it is still in use. If you are curious about "how it works" try them in any baby shop. I am sure you would like them. 

C&P: Oregon Coastline Trip

I have never in my life waited for summers as much as I do now. Being a South-Asian sunny days are commodity instead of luxury in my country-India. But Seattle’s weather has made me to believe that things which are available so easily day in and day out might not be there always. Yup! This is very true with sunny days in Seattle. Weather forecast is the most followed news here. The moment you see a golden sun with no clouds on weekend forecast page, one starts planning for outdoor activities. We are the people who wait for the last rain of the season, not the first. But in spite of this, I love this place for its beauty and serenity.

In Seattle, summer usually starts in July, and July 4^th is the first long weekend of this season. This year we have decided to have a road trip on Hwy 101 which runs along the Oregon coastline. I am quite excited about this trip, as it will be our first trip with our son. Keeping our son’s age in mind we have decided not to make it very hectic and we will pick few but most recommended places for our itinerary. So far we have planned to pick few tourist spots from following list:

Flavel House Museum, Lewis and Clark Salt Cairn Historic Monument, Fort Clatsop National Memorial, Astoria Column, Canon Beach, Tillamook Cheese Factory, Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, Oregon Coast Aquarium

View Oregon Coastline Road Trip in a larger map

Right now, my only concern is that whether we will be able to make it or not as my husband is down with seasonal cold and sour throat. Anyway, let’s hope for the best. I will write more about his trip once we are back. Till then stay tune.

M&M : Shopping List for Mommy and Munchkin- I

Maternity Clothes:

While shopping for maternity clothes I decided not to buy too many, but at the same time I wanted to have variety too; therefore, I decided to wear casual tops as well. I was surprised to see, till six month   I was able to wear my Rosettes. I also tried halter tops and Indian tunics.

Before you buy maternity clothe here is my one advice: Don't buy baby doll tops-the one which has  tight elastic at bust line. They are quite uncomfortable. Instead go for smoked, ruched or waist-tie or drawstring tops.

For maternity clothes I would recommend following stores:

• Motherhood Maternity: Motherhood Maternity is a good place for buying bottoms (Jeans/trousers). I really love the secret belly Jeans. I do not like the tops because of dull colors, but still got one nice top from here.
• Gap Maternity Shop
• Burlington coat factory
• Kohl’s
• Pea in the pod: Expensive but you will get variety
• Unbuttoned Maternity

Footwear: During your pregnancy do not buy any new footwear. Most of the women have edema during their pregnancy which can cause swelling in the hands, face, legs, ankles, and feet. I had edema too and I really liked my back strap sandals which I could adjust according to my swollen feet.

Pregnancy Pillow: You might need a pregnancy pillow in your third trimester to support your tummy while sleeping. A no of pillows are available, you can choose according to your requirement.

Maternity/Nursing Bras: With passing pregnancy both bust and breast size change a lot. If the change is not significant you can use the bra extender otherwise buy some new bras for yourself. Don’t buy your nursing bras too early and too many. You can buy couple of them in last couple of month of your pregnancy. While selecting the bra keep following points in mind:

• Always buys at least one size (or some women like to buy two size up) from current size
• If possible, check how comfortable you feel with nursing pad in it
• Make sure you can open and close the snap with one hand comfortably

Here is one good article about selecting maternity bras

Baby Items:

I started exploring about baby items towards the end of six month of my pregnancy. Initially, I got overwhelmed with so many options available, but “Baby Bargain” and my friends’ suggestions really helped me to narrow down my requirements. Here is the the must have list for a new mom. You can change it according to your requirement and budget.

Nursing/Feeding:

• Nursing Pillow
• Pacifier
• Bottle Warmer
• Nursing pads
• Bottle brush
• Brest Pump
• Bottle Nipples
• Nursing cover

Sleeping:

• Crib
  
• Crib mattress
• Crib bedding set
  
• Head Support Pillow

Bathing:

• Bath tub
• Shampoo and body lotion
• Comb
• Massage oil
• Massage sheets
• Bath Towels
• Nasal aspirator
• Nail clipper

Diapering:

• Diaper
• Wipes
• Changing Pad and pad cover
• Diaper rash cream

Nice to Have:

• Infant Bundle me
• Sterilizer
• Glider/Rocker
• Swing
• Baby Monitor
• Pack n Play
• Hands Free Breastpump Bra
• Snuggle Nest
• Wipe warmers
• Bottle Drying rack

Other:

• Night Light
• Car Seat and Stroller

M&M: Pregnancy and Exercise

Drinking plenty of water and doing exercise regularly can save you from lots of trouble during pregnancy. I didn't do any exercise in my initial four months but eventually I started doing exercise daily. A long evening walk was a must have thing for me. I chose couple of gentle exercises with seated poses (using chair as prop) from Prenatal Yoga with Shiva Rea; In addition, Squatting, Tailor sitting and sliding squat were the other three main exercises which I used to do a couple of times during the day. I realized that a gentle workout really helps in assuaging minor aches and pain and it also makes your muscles strong and flexible.

M&M: Icky Side effects of Pregnancy

During my pregnancy a number of times I felt that I am flakier than usual. I saw myself forgetting things frequently and slipping things from my hand all the time. It became impossible for me to have my meal without messing up. Literally, I used to eat like a kid. Although list of my side effects is quite long, I am sharing some of them and how I coped with them.

Morning Sickness and Queasiness:
From its name it sounds like something which can happen only in morning, but trust me it can happen all day long. It doesn't matter what time of day. Following are the measures I tried to get some relief from it.

• Drinking lots of water with fresh lemon in it
• Ginger also helped me a lot in quelling my queasiness. I used to nibble on ginger
• Taking small but frequent light meals. I realized the my queasiness increased if I delayed my meal
• Preggie Pops
• Vitamin B6 syrup (after consulting my Nurse practitioner)

Excessive Saliva:
Initially, when it started I thought it might be because of acidity, but soon I realized that I am salivating more than usual. Beside spitting I tried following measure to quell it :

• Frequent brush and tongue cleaning. I used to dislike the taste of toothpaste and mouth wash, so I started using Indian tooth powder "Dabur lal dant manjaan.”
• Frequent, small, well-balanced meals, and avoided excessive amounts of starchy food
• Drank plenty of water- I used to keep a water bottle handy all the time
• Preggie pops

Taste Change:
My sense of taste became so unpredictable that if one day I was eating sweet the other day I was eating salty food. This was the one area where I was experimenting every other day. Throughout the day I used to feel metallic taste, I made a habit of brushing my teeth and cleaning my tongue after every meal.

Smell Sensitivity:
Oh man! It was so bad. My smell sensitivity was so intense that we stopped cooking food at our home and put a microwave in garage. I always used a paper tissue to cover my nose whenever I visit my kitchen. I also tried aromatherapy by smelling different things such as flower petals, candles, drinks (rooh afza) etc.

Food Aversion:
I had a severe food aversion specially to garlic, onion and milk. I used to avoid  fridge and our pantry. For some time we stopped buying all those food items which were on top of my aversion list. I was not able to drink milk so to keep my calcium intake normal I started eating "Rasgullas"

Headaches and Fever:
I got the fever and headaches for a short time. I took “Tylenol” once or twice after consulting my Nurse practitioner. I preferred the rest over the medication for mild fever/headaches

Acid Reflux:

Throughout my pregnancy I avoided oily food. I also started Indian yoghurt with each meal and that really helped me in my acid reflux. Other things which I tried were:

• Avoided water immediately after meal
• Avoided citric fruits. Ate fruits and vegetables which helped me in quelling my acid reflux: Banana, Guava, Doskaya, and cucumber
• Frequent shots of cold milk
• TUMS
• Slow walking on Treadmill after every meal

Leg Cramps:

It started in my third month. To keep my leg cramps at bay I tried following thing:

• Increased my calcium intake
• Stretching exercises (check my section)

Water retention (edema):

• Avoided wearing socks and tight footwear
• I used to drink lots of water
• Avoided long sitting and standing. I used to put my feet up whenever possible while sitting

Stretch Marks:

My Dr. advised me not to waste my money on stretch marks cream. I used the olive oil as body lotion throughout my pregnancy and it worked for me.

Labia pain:

“Taylor sitting” helped me a lot in assuaging my pain from it.

M&M: Tale of my three trimesters

During my pregnancy, I had all the possible side effects that one can imagine: excessive saliva, mood swings, acid reflux, smell sensitivity, nausea, headaches, back pain, water retention (edema), taste change, itching, muscle spasms, etc. Like a true friend acid reflux stayed with me until the last day of my pregnancy; there wasn't a single day when I didn't feel it. To get some relief from it, I tried every possible thing, but soon I realized that I couldn’t get away from it.

In my first two months, I didn’t feel any major side effects except increased appetite and mood swings; however, beginning third month, every other day I was feeling something new. Third month was worst I was not able to eat well because of nausea and queasiness. I was throwing up all day long. My diet was quite limited to certain food items. Primarily, I was eating lots of fruits and drinking lemonade. My husband was a bit surprised when he found that I couldn’t even drink plain water because of some weird small; and same with Onion, garlic, rice, because of their unbearable smell I stopped eating them.
Generally, second trimester is considered relatively better than other two which I found true in my case, but it was not as good as I was expecting. Beginning fourth month things started getting better, and I found that some of the side effects were fading away. Fifth and sixth months were the best period of my pregnancy. In these two months, I could eat well and some of the side effects such as smell sensitivity and morning sickness had lessened; I started light exercises and evening walk, and we also planned trips to Vancouver and Bay area.
Once I reached my third trimester I realized how time really flies? This trimester was relatively better than my first trimester, but there were some new developments such as difficult in walking, blanking out, loosen grip, labia pain, muscle spasms. Babycenter.com was one of the sites which I used primarily for my pregnancy-related queries. I also subscribed to its weekly emails.
My every trimester came with new surprises, but slowly, and steadily I learned how to cope with them.
Posted by Nidhi at 10:40

M&M: Books I Read During Pregnancy

In pregnancy, it really helps if you know beforehand what changes your pregnancy will brings in you, what is safe to eat and what is not, and what one can try to assuage minor aches and pains. There are really some good books which helped me throughout my pregnancy. I didn’t read any book religiously, but I used to consult them whenever I had any question or concern.

1. Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy: Loved this book very precise and concise with no fluffs. I used to read it on week-by-week basis to get a picture of my upcoming weeks.
2. Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn: The Complete Guide By Penny Simkin, Janet Whalley and Ann Keppler: This book, not only provides info about clinical details, but also provides info about the emotional aspects of pregnancy. If you are planning for natural birth then this is a must have book. I used this book primarily for Pregnancy exercises, natural birth, and postpartum care.
3. What to expect when you're expecting By Heidi Murkoff (Author), Sharon Mazel (Author): I don’t like it much; I found the tone a bit condescending and found the details a bit overwhelming. I used to filter through the pages which applied to me.
4. Baby Bargains: Secrets to Saving 20% to 50% on Baby Furniture, Gear, Clothes, Toys, Maternity Wear and Much, Much More! by Denise Fields, Alan Fields : A must have book for new parents. It really helps you to understand the general lingo related to baby stuff. This book helped me in making my decision about what to buy and what not to. I didn't read this book cover-to-cover, but I selected few topics and read them thoroughly.
5. Be Prepared: A Practical Handbook for New Dads: This book is a perfect gift for a new Dad. Don't get mislead by the title, even for new mom it's a good read. My husband and I read this book. It is a very practical, short and upfront book. Book's layout is pretty organized and full of pictures. I read this book in short burst towards the end of my pregnancy and after delivery. Tips and tricks are really practical and useful too.

M&M: Welcome to the Mommy's club!

Becoming a Mom is a life changing experience; it completely changes your outlook towards life. After becoming a Mom your whole world  revolves around your little munchkin. In three trimesters of Pregnancy one feels so many physical as well as emotional changes that it becomes overwhelming. I know every pregnancy is different; some really enjoy their pregnancy- as they do not feel any side effects - but for others each day becomes a new challenge.

My pregnancy was a bit difficult. I had almost all possible icky side effects which one can imagine. My initial two months of pregnancy were fine but from 9th week onward things became bad to worst. I still remember   on my first visit to Ob/Gyn I was so happy  that I had completed two months and still there was no side effect, but very next day my morning sickness started.

There are two weird things about pregnancy- First, with each passing day your questions and Google search increases; second, the strategies or advices which worked for some might not work for you.  Most of the time when I had a doubt, I used to call my family or my friends, consult a book, search on the net, or if nothing worked then I used to call my Nurse practitioner.

Definitely, pregnancy is a roller-coaster ride for some and cake-walk for others.

Better late than never….

It was a lazy Saturday morning. My wall clock was showing me 10:20 a:m, and I was wondering what should I cook for the brunch? I really wanted to try something different from regular meal. I asked my husband, “how about Vegetable Manchurian,” and as expected he was all in for that. So, in four easy steps I got the recipe: open laptop, open Google in browser , type “Vegetable Manchurian”, and click. So easy!! Suddenly, my thought process switched to something which I have been thinking for a while, why not I blog my experience? Bingo!! Let’s have a blog. I asked my husband, "What do you think?" “Are you planning to write a blog about cooking," he replied. I thought for a moment and then immediately replied, "no." He looked at me and raised his hand in question. I continued, "No, I want to write about all those stuff which interests me, whether it is cooking or craft; books or news; or Mommy or munchkin. It's just I want to share my experiences, and what I think about them." "Ok, not a bad idea, but do you have time," he replied. I smiled and started exploring blog sites. I always believe everybody has 24 hours in a day and it depends on one how and what they want to do with them.

Oh! Hi there! I got so much involved with my story that I forget to introduce myself. Although I can write few pages about me, I’ll leave you with a brief introduction. By profession I am an IT Professional, but I decided to take a break from work, as I wanted to spend some time with my little monster. For now, both Mommy and son are giving great company to each-other, and I am enjoying every bit of it; In addition, I love to read, cook, decorate home and travel; or you can say I enjoy all the niceties that life brings with it. On this blog I am going to share all those niceties and my experience with them.