Pen & Letter Stands

This is an interesting way of using tins (eg. canned food) and boxes (eg. cornflakes).

Pen Stands - After washing the tin thoroughly and taking out the label, you can cover the outside by sticking different types of paper. Use feltpens, paints, buttons...whatever is lying around. Be creative. ( i have not really used my creative side on these pictured above!)

Boxes - Cut down the top of the box to the size you want. Cover with paper and decorate. Really simple. Easy way to organise your stuff like papers, address books, letters, cheque books, envelopes, clips, pins etc.

Beading

One of my favourite places to be is Micheals - the art and craft store! This is where i picked up an interest to learn beading. I would go through the books there and couldnt beleive how easy it looked to be creative and make lovely beaded jewellery!

I decided to do the beading workshop that they had advertised. It was just for 3 hours and i would learn the basics. I'm glad i did, it was a nice learning experience. I was so excited - i had just made my first bracelet and matching earrings!

From then on i have been practicing making different types of earrings & bracelets. It is an enjoyable art and recommended for anyone who is creative and enthusiastic about art and craft.

Pepper Mutton

Mutton - 1/4 kg

Onion - 1 chopped

Grind - 1 tbsp pepper corns, 3 green chillies, 3 big flakes garlic, a small piece ginger, a small bit of cinnamon.

Pressure cook the mutton with a little turmeric powder.

Heat 2 tbsps oil in a pan, add the onion and fry well. Add the ground masala, mutton and salt to taste. Keep on frying till the mutton is well coated with the masala and cooked. (Water can be added a little at a time in case the masala dries up too much and is sticks to the bottom of the pan ) Add curry leaves, fry till it is dry.

Bean and Egg Fry

I learnt this recipe from my mum, it is very simple and tasty.

Beans - 250gms, cleaned and diced

Onion - 1 chopped fine

Garlic - 4 flakes cut fine

Ginger - a small piece cut fine

Green chillies - 2 cut fine

Soya sauce - 1 tbsp

Salt and pepper to taste

Eggs - 2 beaten

Heat 2 tbsps of oil in a pan, fry onions, garlic, ginger & green chillies. Add beans with pepper and salt to taste. Keep stirring for about 10 mins till beans are almost cooked. Sprinkle soya sauce, keep on stirring. Once beans are fully cooked, add the 2 beaten eggs, keep on stirring till the eggs coat the beans and are fully cooked.

Chayote Squash Chilli Fry

This is an extremely easy recipe that i learnt from my husband. I had no idea what chayote squash was! Now we eat it every week!

1 chayote squash cut into cubes after taking out the seed.

Put in a microvawable dish, cover with water and micro high for 5 mins. Take out and drain.

Heat oil in a pan, add 1 tsp of mustard, 1/2 tsp jeera. When the mustard splutters, add 1/2 tsp chilli powder and a pinch of turmeric, add squash and mix well. Keep stirring and till the squash is well coated. Add salt to taste.

Goes well with curd rice, chapathies, rice and rasam.

Crochet

I Love Crochet!

I became interested in needlework & craft by watching my great grandmother, grandmother and mother effortlessly create lovely treasures. I was so amazed that just with thread and a needle or hook you could make such intricate designs, at the end of it you feel a sense of achievement! I have to make a special mention of my great grandmother who never sat idle even for a moment even at the age of 90! She was always busy crocheting and her work was absolutely stunning, hope that i could be half as good as her one day.

My Mum thought me the basics of crochet and from then on there has been no looking back. Once you learn the basic chain and the rest of the stitches, you can follow patterns or just create your own. The possibilities are endless....doilies( my favourite!), edgings, table mats, kitchen pads, baby blankets, tablecloths & runners, sweaters etc

I have not yet ventured into tablecloths & clothing, but hope in the future i can be proud to say i have done so!

Above are pictures of a few doilies i have done.

Methi Chapathi

This chapathi is a variation of the usual chapathi that i make every other day. The kasoori methi gives it a nice taste.

2 cups wheat flour

1/2 tsp salt
2 tsps curd/yoghurt

1 tbsp kasoori methi
warm water to mix

In a bowl mix the flour, salt, curd, kasoori methi. Add the water and knead into a soft dough.
Keep aside for about 1 hour.

Roll out into chapathis and fry with a little oil.