Amma, I don't want to go to school

Today, Karthik didn't want to go to school for some reason. It was very cute to watch him cry, I couldn't help but video it and then blog it.

He loves JCB

Karthik loves only one thing "JCB" or the digger. He has four JCBs of which one of them is his favourite. He sleeps with the JCB, eats with JCB, plays with JCB, bathes with JCB, watches JCB videos, talks about JCB, wants to hear JCB stories whatever be it, it has to be with his JCB. First thing he asks for after he wakes up is "JCB".

Oh!! He loves JCB.

He loves JCB!!

We miss you Appa!!

It is such a treat to see kids react when Raj returns home.

Hardly, does Raj step into the house Vaibhav,the little one, crawls at such amazing speed to his appa. Vaibhav then throws both his arms around his appa and rests his head on his appa's shoulders. Meanwhile, Karthik shouts and jumps around in joy and then runs to his appa. Now, Raj has a challenge he has Vaibhav in his arms and Karthik is tugging at his leg. Sometimes, Raj sits on the stool and then picks up Karthik too. This is a Visual treat for me, Vaibhav and Karthik hugging their appa in joy and Raj in sheer joy. Sometimes, Raj can't pick up Karthik. Karthik then sulks goes and sits on a sofa quietly or comes to me and asks me to pick him up. The sadness on his face is heart breaking. Raj then hurriedly transfers Vaibhav to me and picks up Karthik. Karthik takes a while to return to his normal self.

At times when I get to know that Raj is reaching the apartment, I take the kids out of the home to the corridor. As soon as the kids see Raj stepping out of the lift, they start shouting in joy. Karthik runs to his appa with open arms, while Vaibhav in my arms, beats his hands and legs excitedly and pushes in body towards Raj.

It takes about half an hour for kids to settle with their appa. All, that they try to say in their own sweet way is "We love you appa and we missed you."

Just back from office

Karthik is getting smart

I have been away from blog for ages. I decided to blog again about my kids - Karthik (now 2.5) and Vaibhav (now 11 months).

Karthik talks Kannada pretty well and is catching up on English.

Well!! Off late Karthik says such interesting and intelligent things, that I have no option but blog and record it forever.

27th Oct 2013:

I was watching some movie, I can't recall which. Heroine in that was dressed in white and had worn matching bangles, earring and had some neat hairstyle; and she was sitting in the restaurant with her Boyfriend. Suddenly, Karthik walks up to the TV, points the heroine and tells me "Amma, ninu hinge maadkondu appa jothe kuucho" [Amma you dress up like the heroine and sit with appa]!!!. I was speechless!.

29th OCt 2013:

Karthik asked his aapa "appa, ninu yaake istu dumma aag iidhiya?" [Appa, Why have you become so fat?]. Raj thought it was by chance Karthik said that and asked "Nanu elli dappa aag iidhini?" [Where have I become fat?]. Karthik, promplty put his hand over Raj's panuch and said "Illi" [Here]. Raj and I burst out laughing.

Karthik, we are waiting for more :-).

Vangibath Powder

Ingredients
Urad Dal (udina bele) - 3 cups
Channa Dal (Kadle bele) - 1 Cup
Cinnamon - little less than 1/2 cup
Caper (Moggu) - little less than 1/2 cup
Black pepper - 1/2 cup
Cloves - 1/2 cup
Daniya Powder - 3 spoons
garam masala -  2 spoons

Method
Dry fry all the above ingredients and grind them into a powder in a mixer.

Green Roads in Bangalore

Bangloreans!! Can you guess which road is it from the photo? It is the current airport road. It is totally green and pleasure to drive through. But, we all know it won't stay long this way, so thought of capturing this image. Well, I remember about 10 years ago; all Bangalore roads looked like this.

Mango hot and sour Gojju

Thotapuri mango medium size 1

Salt 1 spoon

Chilli powder (medium spice) 1.5 spoon

Daniya powder 1 spoon

Jaggery 2.5 spoon

Methi 1/4 spoon

Oil 1 spoon

Mustard

Pre Steps

1. Fry the methi seeds without oil in the vessel and make powder of it.

Method

1. Remove the skin of the mango and cut into big pieces

2. In a thick bottom vessel add oil and add mustard.

3. Add the mango pieces to the oil and sauté for 30 seconds.

4. Add salt, chili powder and daniya powder to the mango pieces and sauté for 30 seconds.

5. Add water so that it just covers the mango pieces.

6. Cover the vessel and leave it to boil.

7. When you put the spoon through the mango it must go through it, then the mangoes are done.

8. There must be some water still left in the vessel, if not add 1/4 cup of water. Add jaggery and methi powder and let it boil for 2 minutes. 

This can be eaten with rice, chapatti or even bread.

Mango Gulamba or Mango Jam

When my mother in law made mango gulamba at home, I immediate became its fan. I made it multiple times, as long as the mango season lasted.

Ingredients 

Raw Totapuri Mango Medium size 1

Sugar 1/2 the quantity of the Totapuri Mango pieces

Method

1. Totapuri Mango must be medium raw, it must have a slight yellow tinge.

2. Cut the mango into small slices.

3. Measure the mango pieces in a measuring cup.

4. In the same measuring cup measure the sugar.  Sugar must be exactly half the quantity of mango pieces

5. Add the sugar to a thick bottom vessel and add half cup water, and heat it on low flame.

6. Keep stirring the sugar syrup, until you get the sugar thickness to be one string. Other way to know is, when u add a drop of sugar syrup into water, it must stay and not scatter away.

7. Once the syrup has reached the required consistency, add the mango pieces.

8. Keep stirring the mango pieces in the sugar syrup regularly.

9. When the mango pieces must become a little transparent, hold up one piece of mango in a spoon and watch it, if it flattens then the Gulamba is done.

10. Remove the vessel from the flame and cool it before eating.

This will taste like jam and can be used in place of jam.