Toddler Series - Educational Toys

When it comes to kids toys these days sky's the limit. There are innumerable variety of toys in almost every price range. Some might be worth it and some just a waste of space and money. Specially if we are buying toys for toddlers we have to think twice because as quickly as they get attracted to something, even more quickly they get bored of it. So we don't have to buy everything they ask for.

There are different types of toys that we should encourage toddlers to play with which will help them grow stronger and boost their intelligence. Today we are sharing a few ideas and toys that might help you keep your toddler occupied and learn new things.

Stacking toys: Stacking cups or rings are the best to improve your little one’s motor skills. It also helps in developing your kid’s hand-eye coordination. Initially they might struggle (you have to keep doing it with them) but soon you will be surprised to see how fast they learn. 

How they benefit: It is a great way for kids to learn colors and sizes.

Shape sorter: These come in different types these days like a house or cube etc, but whichever it is, it sure encourages toddlers to discover which shape fits the correct hole. You can also teach colors, shapes and to count as you put them back and thus teach them numbers.
How they benefit: It is a great problem solving toy and also helps in hand-eye coordination, balance and physical agility.

Puzzles: There are lots of puzzles for everyone from kids to adults. When choosing puzzles for toddlers, specially if you are just introducing it to them choose the ones that are big chunks and have pegs so that it's easy for the little hands to hold and put it back. 

Don't expect your child to do it immediately, show them how to do it and give them the chance to explore. They will soon master the skill. Buy puzzles depending on the child's interests to get them involved. If they like cars or numbers or birds etc., start with simple ones and progress to more challenging puzzles as they learn. 
How they benefit: Again this improves logical thinking and hand-eye coordination.

Coloring and drawing:  From a very young age (around 10 months), children start showing interest in pens and pencils. We should encourage children to draw and scribble on papers with crayons. 
How they benefit: Hand-eye coordination is very important in writing. Holding crayons or pens and scribbling helps them develop their imagination and creativity. This also improves their fine motor skills.

Books: Books play an important part in young children to learn and identify new objects everyday and relate to it later when they see it. For example, you could read and show them a book with pictures and sound of a cow and later when they see a real cow they will identify it. Also books with Pop ups or buttons are a great way to teach children cause and effect - if u press this button the song or music plays. Read a lot of books to your children even when they are babies, they will surely love it.
How they benefit: It builds their vocabulary, memory and listening skills.

The list goes on... a few more are wooden blocks, Legos, Play Doh, balls etc. These are just a few basic ideas about getting started. Once you discover your kid's interest you will come up with your own ideas to indulge them .

Apart from teaching the kids to play with toys it is also necessary to inculcate in them

• the habit of sharing their things or toys with other kids their own age and
• the habit of stacking their toys back into their toy boxes or cupboards

This will teach the kids social and organisation skills at a very young age.

It is not necessary to spend a lot of money on toys to keep your children occupied and happy, you can make your own toy,even  a wooden spoon and a plastic bowl from your kitchen  will make your kid happy but their favorite toy will always be YOU.  No matter what you give them they will always need you by their side to teach them and guide them not only when they are toddlers but throughout their life. So what are you waiting for!! Get those toys out and create some beautiful memories ...

Happy Mentoring parents!!!!

Things we do in different time zones!!!

We tried to capture a particular day's activity across three different time zones :). Welcome to our world!!!


A traditional lamp setting in a modern day airport... one last memory of leaving home .....

A day when you just want to relax and unwind yourself with your favorite music playing in your ears and sipping hot cup of tea, brings out the best ideas...

An amazing view in a local park...Enjoying the serenity of a beautiful Sunday morning!

Every moment is special if you enjoy it. So what are you waiting for...grab your cameras and click the moment you're enjoying before it slips away and share it with us.

Happy Clicking friends!

Ganpati Bappa Moriya!!!

Growing up in India we had the great opportunity of witnessing wonderful festivals and celebrations  throughout the year, one such is the celebration of the birthday of Lord Ganesha,a hindu god who is known for  his knowledge and is often worshipped first before starting any new venture for success. This festival is celebrated all over India with different names.. as 'Vinayak Chaturthi' or 'Vinayaka Chavithi',Ganesh chathurthi and many more. For 10 days the clay model of lord ganesh is worshipped and sweets and snacks are offered as prasadam and on 11th day the idol is taken on a procession with people dancing and playing with colours and the idol is immersed in water.This year it is on 17th September.

In India each and every festival or celebration has its own special food. The celebration is never complete without preparing the special sweet or snack for the day. As far as Ganesh chaturthi is concerned Modak (also known as kolukattai) and ladoo are believed to be lord ganesha’s favourite. In some places the clay model of lord ganesh is made with a big ladoo in his hand and on the last day the ladoo is distributed as prasadam.

On this occasion we are sharing one of bappa’s favorite and  simple sweet  moong dhal ladoo. Try making this and get in the festive mood!!!

Moong Dhal Ladoo:

Prep Time: 20 min,Cooking time:10 min

Makes 10 medium  ladoos
Ingredients:

Moong dal (split and husked) - 1 cup (200 grams)
Sugar  – 1 cup (200 grams)
Ghee – 1 cup (200 grams)
Almonds – ¼ cup (50 grams)
Cashews – ¼ cup
Green cardamom – 3
Pistachios – 8 to 10

Method:

1. Blend cardamom  and sugar together in blender to fine powder.
2. Heat 2 tsp ghee in deep pan and roast broken nuts till slight golden brown. Keep aside.
3. In same pan heat on medium low flame  Add moong dhal and roast well till it gives aromatic flavour and becomes golden brown. It will take about 15 Minutes. Keep aside and Let it cool down, powder it in a mixer to fine powder.
4. Heat a pan,add remaining ghee  add moong flour and mix it well for 5 min. Add sugar mixture, roasted cashews to moong flour.
5.  Allow it to cool down and when you can handle the heat,Shape into lemon sized balls when the mixture is still warm. Add 1 tsp of hot ghee gradually if the mixture cannot be easily shaped.
6. Enjoy the Moong Ladoo when its Warm or cold.

Tips

• Increase or decrease the sugar depending on how sweet you want the ladoo.
• The dal can be ground to a finely coarse powder similar to fine sand.
• For a richer flavor and melt in the mouth texture, add 1/3 cup milk powder and increase ghee by 3 to 4 tbsps.
• If the laddu has developed cracks and is dry, add more melted warm ghee.
• For variation, you can add 1/4 cup dessicated coconut powder.
• You can prepare ladoo with whole green gram by following the above recipe. Just replace yellow moong dal with whole green gram.

Traditionally the ganesh Idol is made with clay and painted with beautiful colours,but we wanted to share a more eco friendly way of doing it from your kitchen ingredients a DIY ganesha.

All you need is :

• 2 cups Flour (all purpose )
• water
• 2-3 Salt
• a bowl to mix
• Food colours  (optional)
• Acrylic paint or spray paint (optional )

• Mix flour, salt & water in a bowl. If the dough is too dry, kneady in a tbsp of water.
• Dough can be coloured by dividing into several parts and kneading in few drops of food colour in each part .
• Roll the dough give it a shape of ganpati.

We have used this method as it’s easy to immerse the idol in a bowl of water or any water body as it dissolves quickly.

Far away from home we all celebrate this festival in our own special way with flowers sweets & arthi song on a device ;). Its almost time to welcome Lord Ganesh at home. May bappa bring happiness in everyone’s life.

Happy Celebration!!!

                                      

Kosha Mangsho with a Chettinad twist!!!

When we look at Indian cuisine, it is evident that mutton has been a favourite meat since ancient times, especially in the Royal kitchens. Mutton curry (also referred to as kosha mangsho/ lamb curry) is an Indian curry which originated in Bengal and is prepared with mutton & vegetables. Though Mutton these days is cooked using pressure cookers or slow cookers, originally it was prepared in a large pots simmered over fire for hours. Some of the popular preparations that capture the essence of INDIAN culture and traditions are Galouti Kebabs from Lucknow, Rogan Josh from Kashmir, Kosha Mangsho from Bengal, Chettinadu Mutton Kulambu from Tamil Nadu.

Indian Spices are used generously to enhance the flavor of meat right from American hamburgers and British roasts to the classic Indian and Middle Eastern lamb curries and stews. As we know mutton is a tough and strongly flavored meat, it needs to be marinated and cooked well to bring out its unique taste. Here is our version of the recipe which is based on a fusion of Bengal and Tamil Nadu.

Preparation Time : 15 -20 mins

Cooking Time : 1 hour 20 mins

Serves : 2 to 4

Ingredients:

Oil -  2  tbsp

Ghee - 2 tbsp

Onions (medium) - 2 sliced thinly

Green Chilli - 2 slit

Ginger Garlic Paste - 2 tbsp

Tomatoes (medium) - 2 chopped

Salt to taste

Turmeric Powder -1 tsp

Mutton / Lamb - 1/2 kg / 500 grams

Water as needed

Coriander Leaves- a handful finely chopped

Whole Spices:

Cinnamon - 1 stick

Cardamom pods - 4-5

Cloves - 4-5

Fennel Seeds 1 tsp

For Chettinad Spice Powder:

Dry Red Chilli - 3 to 5 or to taste

Whole Coriander Seeds - 2 tbsp

Cinnamon Stick- 1 stick

Fennel Seeds - 1 tbsp

Whole Peppercorns - 1 tbsp

Cumin Seeds - 1 tbsp

Cardamom Pods -  5-6

Curry leaves- 2 sprigs

For Coconut Masala:

Coconut - 1 cup

Fennel seeds -1tbsp

Method:

1. Grind coconut and fennel seeds to a smooth paste by adding some water. Set aside till use.

2. Heat a kadai. Dry roast all the ingredients  given under chettinad spice powder till they are golden. Cool them and put in a blender and grind into a fine powder. Set aside till use.

3. Heat oil in the same kadai or a pressure cooker. Add in the whole spice and let them sizzle for a min.

4. Add  onions, green chillies. Saute till light golden.

5. Now add  ginger garlic paste and saute for a couple of mins. Add in salt and turmeric powder and mix well.

6. Add in tomatoes and saute till they are completely mushed up.

7. Add in the washed mutton pieces &  the grounded chettinad spice powder and toss well, and add little water accordingly.

8. Pressure cook for up to 3 - 5 whistles and then simmer the flame for 15 to 20 mins. Turn the heat off and let the pressure go all by itself.

9. Now open the cooker and add in the coconut masala and more water depending upon your preference of the consistency of gravy.

10. Cover and simmer for 15 to 20 mins till the oil separates and floats on top.

11. Garnish with coriander leaves and mix well. Serve this curry with rice or roti.

 

Tips

• If you don’t own a pressure cooker, use a Dutch pot instead and cook for 40-45 min covered, until meat is tender.
• You can marinate the mutton using the spice powder a day before cooking & refrigerate it overnight to enhance the flavour of the meat.
• Add water depending on how thick you want your gravy /curry to be.
• Leftover curry can be used next day, by adding boiled egg to it ;)
• Vegetarians can use soya chunks instead of mutton, gives the same taste and texture.
• Husband’s tip: Add spoonful of ghee before serving!!!

It is one of those weekend dishes where family members gather to relish a scrumptious meal made with love.The heat of the dish combined with the aroma of the spices makes it hard to resist. So go ahead bring out your pots & pans and make this happy family meal.

Happy Meaty Meal !!!!

Heavenly Homemade Ghee....

Ghee is the Indian version of clarified butter. It is a key ingredient in all the Indian sweets since it adds an exquisite flavor to the dish. It is considered to be sacred in the Hindu tradition and is till date used in all the offerings made to god and in yagnas as fuel. It was used for its healing abilities in olden days. It is also known for its moisturising quality. Ghee is made with full fat butter these days, but in earlier times the cream of milk was collected for many days and churned to get pure butter and later melted to make ghee. In many places ghee is used as a substitute for oil as it add richness to the dish and enhances flavour. In the past ghee was used widely on a daily basis, but now as people have become more health conscious, ghee has become an ingredient only for special occasions.

This week being janmashtami we are sharing Lord Krishna's favorite snack the heavenly homemade ghee recipe from our kitchen. The main reason we started making ghee at home is because the ghee we get here (abroad) is not as flavorful as desi ghee and the desi ghee from Indian supermarkets is overpriced or mostly out of stock. So the best way was to make our own ghee at home, fresh and full of flavor.

The procedure is as follows:

Ingredients:

Unsalted Butter blocks

Pinch of salt-optional

Method:

1. Cut the butter blocks into smaller blocks.

2. Add these butter blocks into a thick bottomed pan and cook on low heat. Let the butter melt  completely.

3. Once it has melted you can see fat separating in the form of foam which appears on the surface and you can hear popping sounds.

4. Slowly remove the foam with a spoon and discard.

5. Gradually you can see the foaming has reduced and the colour of the ghee turns golden brown. You can also tell from the aroma of the ghee.

6. Filter this into a container. You can see brown solids which can be discarded
Your ghee is ready.

We have used RoomBoter, you could also use Organic valley Cultured butter or Kirkland unsalted butter (available in stores).

Tips:

1.Using a thick bottomed pan prevents the butter from burning.

2. Adding a pinch of salt will give a nice flavour.

3. Ghee can be used as moisturizer on chapped lips or dry hair.

4. You can store ghee in the refrigerator or if it is winter/you live in a cold country you can leave it in room temperature to solidify.

Krishna Janmashtami or Gokulashtami is the celebration of the birth of Hindu deity Lord Krishna.This festival  is celebrated all over India with different names and in different ways based on the region and beliefs. Kids are dressed up as krishna and their footprints of rice flour batter are marked from the doorway to the place where all the sweets are placed, to indicate that krishna has come to their house. Houses are decorated and lots of sweets and snacks are prepared to be offered to Lord Krishna and later distributed as prasadam.

 It is believed that little Krishna loved butter and stole butter when he was a kid, so fresh butter and milk products are main offerings on this day. This year we made him happy with his favorite dish, what about you???

Happy Churning !!!!