Floral Design 4 - Christmas red berries

Christmas is the most lively and colorful time of the year. Make it more memorable with this Christmas Holiday Red Berries Vase Decor.

                  

Floral Design 3 - Tulip Springs

Tulips are a harbinger of spring with their heady stalks and lively blooms. Tulips are part of the Lily family which is reflected in their beautiful colors. These colors are not only beautiful but also rich in meaning.

For example, red tulips with their dark center are a symbol of romantic and passionate love, yellow brings cheer, and pretty and pink Tulips send a message of happiness and confidence.

  

                                            Tulips are always a sign that spring is near

Floral Design 2 - Christmas Holiday Red Berries

Christmas is the most lively and colorful time of the year. Make it more memorable with this Christmas Holiday Red Berries Vase decor.

Floral Design 1

  Simple Floral arrangement for your evening Family Dinner.

                                                       

 

                                        

Stuffed Eggplant fry

 Preparation Time: 30 minutes

 Cook Time: 30 Minutes

 Ingredients:

•  1 cup of roasted chana dal
•  1/2 cup of peeled Garlic
•   5 red chilies
•   1 teaspoon of peanuts
•   1 teaspoon of coriander seeds
•   1 teaspoon of Jeera 
•   2 teaspoons of amchur powder
•   Salt as needed
•   5 teaspoons of oil
•   15 small eggplants

  Steps to prepare:

•   On a pan Dry Roast Chana dal, garlic, red chilies, peanuts. Add coriander seeds and Jeera.
•   Allow the ingredients to cool down. Grind the ingredients and keep it aside. 
•   Add Amchur powder and salt to the grinded mixture. 
•   Taste and make sure spice levels are enough.           
•   Adjust spices based on spice levels.
•   Now, slit eggplants in the middle and stuff eggplants with the powder.
•   Repeat the same for the rest of the eggplants.
•   Now, on a pan put oil. Add stuffed eggplants.
•   On low flame, slowly fry eggplants. This would take some time.
•   Stuffed eggplant fry is ready for serving. Serve it with hot rice.

                                                    

Icecream Mango Waffles

 Preparation Time: 10 minutes

 Cook Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

1/2 cup Oats powder

2 teaspoons of all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon powder

2 teaspoons of walnut powder

1 egg

1/2 cup of banana

1/2 cup of diced Mango Slices

Pinch of baking soda

1 cup of almond milk

3 scoops of vanilla or strawberry icecream

Steps to prepare:

• In a container, whisk egg. Add slices of banana and mix well.
• Add cinnamon powder, walnut powder, all-purpose flour, oats powder and pinch of baking soda. Mix all the ingredients.
• Add almond milk and make it into batter consistency.
• Now spread one spoon of batter on waffle maker and allow the waffle to toast.
• Now waffles are ready
• Put a scoop of ice cream on waffles 
• Sprinkle Mango slices on top.

                                                            

 Variations:

You can replace mango slices with your favorite toppings. But this recipe tastes good with Ripped Mango pieces.

Chicken Curry

Preparation Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients:

1 whole chicken finely diced

3 tablespoons of Ginger/garlic paste.

1 cup of diced onion

1 cup of mint leaves

Tempering: 1 tablespoon of Jeera, 3 cardamom pods, 1 cinnamon stick, 

2 teaspoon of white poppy seeds

2 teaspoons of Sompu

1 cup of Cashew nuts.

Paste: Make a paste of poppy seeds, sompu and cashew nuts. Keep the paste aside.

1 teaspoon of coriander powder

1 teaspoon of Jeera powder

1 teaspoon of Turmeric powder

3 split green chilies.

1/2 cup of yogurt

Oil as needed

1/2 cup of coriander leaves

salt as needed

Steps to prepare:

• In a large bowl, put whole chicken, ginger garlic paste,1 teaspoon of oil, coriander powder, jeera powder, yogurt, mint leaves. Marinate for 30 minutes.
• In a large pan, add oil all the tempering ingredients. Fry well
• Add Onions, ginger garlic paste and fry well.
• Add 3 split green chilies.
• Add Mint leaves.
• Now add the paste prepared and fry well.
• Add little coriander powder/ jeera powder/ Garam Masala and mix well.
• Now, Add Marinated chicken and mix well.
• Allow chicken to cook well in the gravy.
• Once the chicken is 3/4 cooked, Add water. cook for some more time
• Add salt
• Add Coriander leaves.
• Chicken curry is ready to serve
• Serve it with Hot steamed rice.

                                                           

Chicken Fry

 Preparation Time: 5-6 Hours

Cook Time: 30 minutes

 Ingredients:

 1 whole chicken sliced into medium size pieces

 1 cup of mint leaves

 1/2 cup of ginger garlic paste

 1/2 cup of yogurt

 1 teaspoon of Garam Masala

 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder

 1 teaspoon of coriander powder

 1 teaspoon of Jeera powder

 2 teaspoon of chili powder

 1/2 cup of diced onions

 Tempering: 1 teaspoon of Jeera, 3-4 Cardamom pods, 1 bay leaves, 1 cinnamon stick. 3-4 curry leaves

6 teaspoons of oil

1/2 cup coriander leaves.

Preparation: 

• In a large container, add chicken, 2 teaspoons of oil, turmeric powder, coriander powder, Jeera powder, chili powder, yogurt, garam masala, salt and mix well. Store the container in refrigerator.
• In a pan, put oil and all the tempering ingredients. Add Onions and sauté well.
• Add Marinated chicken and allow the chicken to cook on low flame for 20 minutes. Intermittently keep tossing the chicken. 
• Based on spice levels add chili powder
• Add Salt as needed. Add coriander leaves.
• Allow chicken to cook well.
• Chicken fry is ready for serving. Serve hot with hot steamed rice.

                                               

Spinach Mint rice

 Preparation Time: 5 minutes

 Cook Time: 30 minutes

 Ingredients:

 4 cups of chopped spinach

 1 cup of Chopped Mint

 2 cups of rice (Sona Masoori or Basmati Rice)

 5 green chilies

3 teaspoons of oil

 Tempering: 3 Cardamom pods, 1 cinnamon stick, 1 bay leaf, 3 flower pods, 1 teaspoon of Jeera

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 slice of ginger

3 garlic pods

 salt as needed

 Steps to Prepare:

• In a large pan, put oil and all the tempering ingredients. Add Chopped spinach/mint/Ginger/Garlic pods and fry well.
• Keep the fried ingredients on a side. Let them cool for 2-3 minutes and blend them. Keep the paste aside.
• In the same pan, put oil. Add 1/2 cup of chopped onions.
• Add split green chilies.
• Add Spinach/mint paste. Sauté for 2-3 minutes. As the spinach is already cooked, we would not need more cook time.
• Now, if we would like to prepare this in a pressure cooker, instead of Pan we can directly Saute it in pressure cooker. I generally use instant pot to prepare this, so I either Saute directly in instant pot or transfer the fried spinach/mint paste to instant pot pan.
• Now, in the instant pot pan, for every cup of rice add 2 cups of water. Here I am adding 4 cups of water for 2 cups of rice.
• Allow the water to boil.
• Now, add salt and pressure cook.
• Spinach Mint Rice is ready to serve.
• Serve it with Yogurt Raita and papad.

                         

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

 Preparation Time: 10 mins

 Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients:

10 Strawberries washed 

1 cup of chocolate chips

1 tablespoon oil

1 cup of pink yogurt melts

Steps to prepare:

• Take a large pan and fill it with sufficient water, allow water to boil.
• In a bowl pour chocolate chip and place the bowl on top of hot water pan. Make sure the bowl we select is sitting sturdy on pan and not dropping into water.
• Gently stir chocolate chips for 2 mins.
• Add a tablespoon of oil and gently stir until we see dipping consistency.
• Now take the bowl out and wait for a minute for chocolate to cool.
• On a plate, put parchment paper
• Hold strawberry with fingers and slowly twist strawberries in chocolate dip. Keep chocolate dipped strawberry on plate arranged with parchment paper.
• Put them in refrigerator and allow it to cool for at least 20 mins. After that, chocolate dipped strawberries are ready to eat.   

                                                        

• Repeat the steps mentioned above, this time instead of chocolate chips put pink yogurt melts.
• Do not put oil this time.
• Hold strawberry with fingers and slowly twist strawberries in pink yogurt melts dip. Keep dipped strawberry on plate arranged with parchment paper.
• Put them in refrigerator and allow it to cool for at least 20 mins. After that, chocolate dipped strawberries are ready to eat. 

Hope you will like this recipe.

22 Self care tips for kids

 Self care for kids is necessary to reduce stress and increase happiness. It is sometimes very tough for parents to handle stressful situations. It is not only for the kids even adults should practice self-care to give themselves a break from hectic lives, refresh, and take care of themselves mentally, emotionally, and physically. While we all know that self-care is important for adults, it is also important for kiddos.

Benefits of self care for Kids

• When kids practice self-care they learn to identify their physical and emotional needs and can begin to take care of those needs.
• Practicing self-care at a young age allows kids to create a foundation that will benefit them as adults.
• Practicing self-care allows your child to develop healthy habits that they can benefit from in the future.
• Your child will be able to become more independent and understand how to take care of themselves.
• They will develop the skills necessary to keep themselves healthy mentally, physically, and emotionally.

Self-care activities for kids

• Go on a bike ride.
• Read a book.
• Bubble Bath
• Listen to relaxing music
• Cook a meal together with kids
• Draw or paint
• Do a Puzzle
• Have a dance party
• Drink a cup of Hot Chocolate
• Make them to play board or card games
• Talk with kids and know about good parts of their day.
• Make them to snuggle with a stuffed animal
• Listen to their favorite music
• Play dates with friends
• Make up their bed with fresh sheets (just a quick dryer will do the trick)
• Mindlessly build with Legos or play-doh.
• Declutter old toys and clothes.
• Visit a playground.
• Give them massage with olive oil.
• Do story telling.
• Talk with friends and family.
• Make fun popsicles with kids.

self-care is a high priority when things are challenging, and they will help you handle what comes next.

Cabbage Carrot fry

Preparation Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients:

3 cups of sliced cabbage

1/2 cup of grated carrot

2 teaspoons of oil

Tempering: Jeera, mustard seeds, 1 teaspoon of chana dal, 1 teaspoon of urad dal, 3-4 curry leaves

3 slit green chilies

1/4 teaspoon of Turmeric

Salt as needed

1/4 cup of finely chopped coriander leaves

Steps to prepare:

• In a pan, heat oil and add all the tempering ingredients.
• Add slit green chilies
• Add Cabbage and fry for 3 minutes
• Add grated carrot and fry for 10 minutes
• Add Turmeric powder.
• Add salt and serve hot with chapati's or hot rice.

                                                         

Bottlegourd Milk Curry

 Preparation Time: 10 mins

 Cook Time: 30 mins

 Ingredients:

2 cups of finely bottle gourd

1 cup of milk

3 green chilies

2 teaspoons of oil

Tempering: Jeera, mustard seeds, curry leaves

1/4 teaspoon of turmeric powder

salt as needed

1/4 cup of finely chopped coriander leaves

Steps to prepare:

• In a large pan, add oil and put all the tempering ingredients
• Add green chilies
• put diced bottle gourd and fry for few minutes. Close the lid and allow it to cook for 10 mins
• Now add turmeric powder
• Add milk and allow it to cook for 10 mins, make sure milk is cuddled with bottle gourd
• Now add salt and coriander leaves and mix well.
• serve hot with steamed rice or chapati

                                                                 

Chana Masala (Chickpeas Curry)

 Preparation Time: 30 mins

Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients:

2 cups of dried chickpeas

3 teaspoons of oil

1/2 cup diced onions

1/2 cup diced Tomatoes

2 green chillies

Tempering: Jeera, Cinnamon stick, Elachi (3-4)

Grated ginger and Garlic (1 tablespoon)

1 tablespoon of Amchor powder

1/2 teaspoon of Chilli powder

1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder

salt as needed

1/2 cup of finely chopped coriander leaves

Steps to Prepare:

•  Soak chickpeas in 5 cups of water overnight
•  Pressure cook chickpeas in pressure cooker or instant pot. Keep them ready
•  In a large pan, add all the tempering ingrediants and fry.
• Add onions and allow them to fry for 2-3 minutes
• Add ginger garlic paste (Optional)
• Add Tomatoes. Allow them to cook for 5 minutes.
• Add turmeric powder, chilli powder, amchor powder and mix well with onion/tomato paste
• Add boiled chickpeas to the paste and mix well. 
• Add little water and allow the chickpeas to cook for 10 mins
• Add salt.
• Put chopped coriander leaves. 
• Serve hot with either poori/chapati or hot steamed rice.

                                                           

                Variations:

                 

                 we can add 1 cup of diced potato cubes.

                 we can add chaat Masala or store bought chana masala for that extra spicy flavor.                  

Kale Poriyal

Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients:

3 cups of sliced Kale leaves

1/2 cup of finely diced onions

3 teaspoons of oil

Tempering: 1 teaspoon of Jeera, 1 teaspoon of mustard seeds, 1 teaspoon of chana dal, 1 teaspoon of urad dal, 5 curry leaves

5 slit green chilies

3 teaspoons of shredded coconut

1 teaspoon of sugar

salt as needed

Steps to prepare: 

• In a large pan, add oil and all the ingredients specified under tempering section.
• Add sliced onions and allow it to fry for 2 minutes
• Add green chilies
• Add Kale and close the lid and allow it to cook for 20 minutes. Make sure Kale leaves are softened.
• Add Salt 
• Add shredded coconut and sugar and mix well. Allow the kale to cook with shredded coconut for few minutes.
• Kale Poriyal is ready to be served. Serve with either Chapati or hot steamed rice.

                                                          

Spring onion egg fry

This is a quick dinner and nutritious recipe. 

Preparation Time: 5 mins

Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients:

3 cups of spring onion

6 eggs

1/2 teaspoon black pepper powder

1/2 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 garam masala

salt as needed

Steps to prepare:

• In a large pan, fry spring onion. Add black pepper and stir fry.
• Add eggs and mix with fried spring onion
• Add chili powder and garam masala
• Add salt and mix well.
• Serve hot either with chapati or hot rice

                                                           

Yogurt Rice

 Preparation Time: None (Provided we have cooked rice and Yogurt)

Cook Time:  10 minutes

Ingredients:

2 cups cooked rice

1 cup yogurt

2 teaspoons of oil

Tempering: Jeera, mustard seeds, curry leaves

2 green chillies

1 red cilli

1 teaspoon grated ginger

Salt as needed

Steps to prepare:

• In a bowl, mix yogurt and cooked rice. Add salt and keep it on side.
• In a pan, heat oil and add all the tempering ingredients
• Add red chili
• Add 2 green chilies
• 1 teaspoon of grated ginger.
• Add it to Rice bowl and mix well. Serve it with your favorite pickle.

                              

Oats and Cinnamon Waffles

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:

2 cups oats flour

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup walnut powder

2 eggs

2 cups almond milk

1 ripped banana

Pinch of baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon powder

1 cup maple syrup

Steps to Prepare:

• In a bowl, keep eggs and whisk them with Banana and cinnamon powder/Baking soda/salt
• Add oats flour, all-purpose flour. Add Almond milk and mix well. Until we see Batter consistency. (Tip: I use hand blender to make it quicker)
• Now, spray Olive oil on waffle maker and put 2 spoons of batter

                                          

•       Repeat the step to make more waffle. Serve hot with banana slices.

                                  
                                                 

Pesarattu (Moong Dal Dosa)

 Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

2 cups green moong dal

1/4 cup yellow moong dal

Ginger slice

2 green chilies

1 cup of finely sliced onions

1/2 cup oil

salt as needed

Steps to prepare:

• In a blender finely grind green moon dal/Yellow moong dal along with ginger and green chilies. Add salt. Transfer it to a container and keep it on side.
• Fry the sliced onion in half spoon of oil and keep it on the side.
• Start the Dosa griddle and evenly spread the Dosa batter on the Dosa griddle.
• Put some fried onions on the Dosa and allow Dosa to turn little brown.
• Gently turn the Dosa to other side.
• Wrap the Dosa and serve hot with ginger chutney/upma/peanut chutney
  
  

Variation:

For extra sweetness, along with onion we can also keep grated carrots

we can add finely chopped coriander leaves.

Peanut Salad

 Preparation Time: 5 minutes

 Cook Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

2 cups of raw peanuts

1 small cucumber

3 baby tomatoes

1 teaspoon of lime juice

1/4 cup cilantro

Salt as needed

Steps to Prepare:

• Soak Peanuts in water and leave for 5 minutes
• In an instant pot or pressure cooker boil peanuts.
• Allow peanuts to cool and add sliced cucumber, lime juice, cilantro and diced tomatoes
• Peanut salad is ready for serving.

                                                                

              

Spanish Omelette

 Preparation Time: 25 Minutes

 Cook Time: 30 Minutes

 Ingredients:

8 eggs

2 cups of finely sliced potatoe cubes

1/2 cup cabbage

1/4 cup spring onion

3 teaspoons of oil

Pinch of black pepper

Salt as needed

1/4 teaspoon of vanilla essence

Steps to prepare:

• In a pan, put oil. Add sliced potato cubes, sauté for a minute and then close the lid. Allow potato to cook for 5 minutes.
• Add Cabbage and spring onion, cook for 2 minutes. Transfer the stuff to a bowl.
• In a separate bowl, beat eggs and add salt and Black pepper.
• Add Sautéed ingredients and Vanilla essence to beaten eggs and mix well. Now the batter is ready to prepare Spanish Omelette.
• In a pan, put a tablespoon of oil and add the batter. close the lid.
• Allow the Omelette to cook completely on one side before turning it to other side.
• Turn the omelette (Tip: I generally use a plate for turning the omelette)
• Cook until omelette is well cooked. Spanish omelette is ready for serving. 

                                                                   

 Variations:

Add onions instead of spring onions.

Instead of Vanilla essence we can also use almond essence.

Onion Pakoda

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time:  30 minutes

Ingredients:

1/2 cup Ketch up

2 cups Besan (Chickpea flour)

2 teaspoons rice flour

3 cups sliced onions

1 green chili

1 teaspoon chili powder

1 teaspoon Ajjwain

Salt as needed

Sunflower oil

Steps to prepare:

• In a frying pan, put sunflower oil and allow the oil to boil.
• In a bowl Mix onion, chickpea flour, rice flour, chili powder, 1 teaspoon Ajwain, salt as needed. Now the Onion batter is ready.
• Put little batter in oil to make sure, oil is hot enough to fry pakora.
• Slowly, put little of onion batter evenly in oil.
• Fry the pakoras until they are golden brown.
• Serve immediately with ketch up.

                                                 

Raksha Bandhan(Rakhi) Sacred Thread

 

'Raksha Bandhan' festival is the celebration of the strong bond that exists between a brother and sister with a beautiful handcrafted 'Rakhi'. 

The sisters tie a knot of Rakhi on the wrist of her brother, who promises to protect his sister from the evil. The Frail of thread of Rakhi is considered as stronger than iron chains as it binds the most beautiful relationship in an inseparable bond of love and trust between brother and sister.

Significance of Raksha Bandhan:

Raksha Bandhan is the day of love and protection. This day is mainly celebrated between brother and sisters to bestow their love and affection of each other. Sisters tie Rakhi to her brother and pray to god for his well being and the brother pledges to protect her from the evil.

When is it celebrated:

Raksha Bandhan is celebrated in Shravana(August) Month during full moon day or Purnima day. That's why this ancient Hindu festival is also known as "Rakhi Purnima". 

How is Raksha Bandhan celebrated?

On the day of Raksha Bandhan, everyone wakes up early and take a bath. They then perform puja and do the aarti of the gods. Then, the sisters apply a red Kumkum

 on the forehead of their brothers, tie the Rakhi and give them sweets to eat. Brothers then give gifts to their sisters and they both have a meal together.

Return Rakhi Gifts for Sisters:

It is in the ritual of Raksha Bandhan when sister ties Rakhi to the brother, he has to give a gift to his sister. We have listed down a list of return gifts for sister

• Apparels
• Cosmetics
• Pieces of Jewelry
• Soft Toys
• Mugs

What to wear for Raksha Bandhan:

Raksha Bandhan is an auspicious festival that also requires dressing up for the celebration. On this day, people wake up early in the morning, take a bath, and dress up to get ready to celebrate the festival. Consider dressing up traditionally like Lehenga, Saree, Salwar, Kurta etc.

Mango Rice

 Mangoes are rich in Vitamin C. Mango rice is a quick lunch box recipe for those Busy mornings.

Preparation time: 10 minutes (Provided we already have boiled rice)

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

2 cups of Rice

1 cup grated mango

3 sliced green chilies

3 teaspoons of peanut oil

Tempering: Hing, Jeera, Mustard seeds, curry leaves

10 peanuts

5 cashew nuts

salt as needed

Preparation:

1) If we have cooked rice, it would be easier, else Cook 2 cups of white rice and allow the rice to cool

2) In a pan, add 3 teaspoons of oil and add all the ingredients specified under tempering section

3) Add green chilies

4) Add peanuts and cashew nuts

5) In a separate Bowl, Mix cooled rice with grated mango

6) Now, Add all the fried ingredients to rice. Mix well. Serve

Lettuce Wraps

 Lettuce wraps are summer favorite at our home. Those humid hot days would be cooled a bit with lettuce. I made it protein dense for the kids.

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 10 Minutes

Ingredients: 

2 cups of scrambled paneer

1 cup diced onion

1 cup diced tomato

1 green chili

Tempering: Jeera

1 cup-soaked green gram

Turmeric powder

chaat masala

salt as needed

Lettuce leaves

1 cup sliced Radish

1 cup vertically sliced purple cabbage

1/4 cup of spring onion.

Steps:

1) In a pan, put some oil, add Jeera. Add Onions and sauté for a minute

2) Add diced tomato and sauté for 2-3 minutes

3) Add turmeric powder, chaat masala and salt. sauté for a minute

4) Add Scrambled Paneer and mix well. Let it cook for 5 minutes. Garnish with Spring onion. (Adjust the spices according to your spice level).

5) Before serving arrange all the ingredients in a platter. As shown in picture

6) On a lettuce leaf, keep 2 tablespoons of curry and add green moong along with Radish and purple cabbage. Eat immediately.

Variations:

1) Instead of paneer we can add Tofu or minced chicken

2) According to your spice levels, add hot sauce for that extra spice.

Lemon Rice

 This is a quick lunch box recipe.

Preparation time: not needed, if we have boiled rice 

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

2 cups boiled rice

2 teaspoons oil

1/4 cup lemon juice

Tempering Ingredients: Hing, curry leaves, Jeera, mustard seeds, peanuts, chana dal, 1 red chili

3 split green chili

1 teaspoon Turmeric

salt as needed

coriander leaves

Steps to prepare:

1) Add Lemon juice, salt to Boiled rice and keep it aside.

2) In a pan, heat oil, add all the tempering ingredients, then add green chilies. Allow them to fry.  

3) Add turmeric powder.

4) Add sautéed ingredients to rice and mix well.

Notes: Grate a carrot and add to rice for more nutrition.

Noodles

We are going to learn how to make noodles. This is very quick recipe

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

2 packets Hakka Noodles

1/4 cup carrots

1/4 cup peas

1/4 cup Broccoli

1/4 cup spring onions

2 eggs

5 teaspoons olive oil

soya sauce 1 tablespoons

Hot sauce 2 tablespoons

1/2 tablespoon Vinegar

Grounded pepper 1 teaspoon.

Salt as needed

Steps to Prepare:

1) On a frying pan, put 1 Teaspoon oil and eggs. Scramble eggs and put some salt and pepper.  Keep it aside

2) Boil water in a pan, Put Hakka noodles and allow noodles to boil. Drain water and add a spoon of olive oil. Tose the noodles.

2) In the same pan, put 4 tablespoons of oil and add Broccoli/Carrots. Sautee for few minutes

3) Add rest of the vegetables. Allow all the vegetables to cook. Now add some salt.

4) Add Noodles to vegetables and then soy sauce, hot sauce, vinegar and grounded pepper/salt. Mix well. (Adjust the quantity of hot sauce to your spice level)

5) Add spring onions and serve.

Tips: 

I generally prepare vegetables while noodles are boiling.

Variation: Along with egg, we can add either fried paneer/Tofu or fried chicken

Healthy Habits

Healthy Habits aren't just eating and exercising. They are also creative activities, time with friends/family or time for us. 

Healthy habits are important. They help us manage stress and challenging situations. Building up routines that help us take care of our bodies, hearts and minds is a valuable investment we should do.

so, how can we build healthy habits. Below steps would help us to make healthy activities as a habit.

• Consistency: Be consistent with the activities we decide to do. This would also set an example for our kids. Consistency with what we have decided to do would help us to convert a healthy activity to a habit. It shouldn't be a one day event or activity. If we really want to make it as a habit we should be consistent with it. For example: we wake up in the morning and brush our teeth, make some teacoffee, take shower, start making breakfast. All the activities we are doing became our habits for a day. This should be the same way if we have to make a healthy activity to a habit

           

• Time: It is easy to start a bad habit, but it takes lot of time and effort to build a healthy habit. Are we bored of doing a healthy activity everyday? do a self talk to yourself, think of all the benefits you would be receiving by doing the activity. 
• Is the habit yours? question to self? Is the habit I am trying to make as part of my routine would really fit my schedule and will that be a good investment for my bodymindemotional wellbeingamily? what works for one person might not be for another. 

self care is a high priority when things are challenging and they will help you handle any situation efficiently.

Summer Activities

                                                                  Summer Activities

 Summer is the most beautiful time of the year and it is also the time we would be able to have fun time with our kids. Early sunrise and chirping sound coming from birds will keep us active in the mornings. 

Summers are the best time of the year with less busy schedules in the morning. Below are the activities we can do with kids and for ourselves to recharge ourselves

1. Family game night:  Have a weekly game night, and on rotation basis make your family to choose the game. 

2. Family movie night: Show a movie on the Main television in your home. This would be easy for the family to snuggle and watch movie at one place.

Serve popcorn and if feasible order pizza for a quick dinner.

3. Family dance party: Host a family dance party to all sorts of different music and show the kids your favorite moves.

4. Do a puzzle: If you're bored with your puzzles, trade with a friend or family.

5.Lego challenges: Give everyone a bag of Lego pieces and charge your crew with building a house, a store, a park, their school or their favorite cartoon character. This would help to keep their fingers strong as well.

6. Grow herbs and flowers:  Make a plant bed and put seeds and make kids watch them grow. See if you can take kids with you to local farmer's market or local flower farms. Also, take them to fruit picking to cultivate healthy eating habit.

7. Visit a zoo:  For the kids of younger age, take them to local zoo and watch how animals look like. Make them to touch and learn about animals.

8. Art Museum: Take kids to a local art museum and make them to explore art and culture from different countries.

9. Hiking: We don't need to stress younger kids with miles of hiking. We can take kids out to local parks with trails and make them get used to walking in trails. If incase of elder kids, find your nearest state or national park or national forest.  This would help them to spend more time outdoors in a clean environment and get fresh air.

10. Movie Marathon: Make them to collect all their classic or Favorite Disney movies and allow them to continuously watch movies. Pair this with Pizza night or order food from kid's favorite restaurant. For teenagers, allow them to watch their favorite 

11. Let's have a picnic: Picnic or grill in the backyard or in your local park. This will help kids to spend some time outdoors. Also, see if you can add some outdoor sports Ex: Play Soccer, Bubbles, Basketball etc.

12: Lemonade Stand: Help Kids to set up a lemonade stand and give the proceeds to a good cause.

13: Declutter:  We might be busy with our school and class schedule during academic year. It is a good to do deep cleaning and make sure we remove all the unwanted things from the house. 

14. Bike Riding: Summer is the time we get a chance to spend more time outdoors. That paired up with Bike Riding would allow us to spend more time outdoors.

15. Baking: Roll your sleeves, out your apron and get into the kitchen and have fun with kids baking their favorite cookies or banana bread. Kids would love to see what they have made with their hands. while cookies are baking, make some lemonade and turn that into Tea party.

16. Library: Summer reading would help kids to maintain the vocabulary. This would also help them to explore new books they would enjoy reading. Make frequent visits to local library.

17. Go Stargazing: Finish your dinner early and go out for a walk with kids. These summer walks would be cool and sky would be clear. Watch for stars and make kids to looks for clouds and ask them to connect to shapes. 

18. Sandcastles: If feasible, make a sandpit in your backyard. Kids would have fun building castles and decorating them. Have fun Sunday morning building castles with kids. Tip: It is easy to buy a foldable bath tub and fill the tub with sand. 

19. Sleep outdoors:  Hammock. Kids can get their favorite books and spend their summer afternoons swinging in Hammock and reading their favorite cartoons.

20. Mini Golf: Make a visit to local Golf. you can also invest in Golf Mat and reuse every summer.

21. Eat something new : Explore local restaurants and find out a place you would like to enjoy.

22. Watch Fireworks : Independence Day fireworks generally come during summers. Find some time to go out and watch Fireworks. Also, make kids to see local parades and sing national anthem.

23. Have a pretend campout: Camping is fun way to spend more time outdoors. If we are busy with our schedules, it is fun to make kids do camping in their backyards. Join kids inside camping tent and play games.

24. Beach: Hot summers always would get better with sometime inside water and playing with sand.

Enjoy your summer's.