Thanksgiving 2021

 Megha and Tanush, I am so incredibly Thankful this year. I have you both and daddy, a job, a home to live. Always remember, love, food, clothing and a roof over your head will all you will ever need to be happy. Always work hard so you can enjoy the fruits of the hard work. Covid has not been very easy on any of us and for the small joys that we can find, we will be thankful. 

Day started off quite well. I havent baked Turkey as the birds are always too big for our family but I baked a whole chicken, with your favorite seasoning. 

We also had steamed corn, mashed potatoes (with just butter, salt, milk and pepper), pumpkin pie, asparagus, pesto flavored rice, deviled eggs (just some dijon mustard and sour cream) and of course cranberry sauce.

Baking our family favorite chicken: 

Prep the marinade: 

1/2C oil, 

2 tbsp garam masala, 

1/2 tsp each (pepper, paprika, turmeric, chili powder, sugar)

1 tbsp ginger and garlic paste

2 tsp salt

3 tbsp lemon juice

Rub the chicken with the above marinade. Rest for 30 mins (min). Pre heat the oven to 400 F. Roast the chicken for 20 mins. Reduce the heat to 350. Continue cooking for another 40 mins. Remove from oven and rest for at least 10 mins before serving.

We also went for a walk :)

our front yard for Fall 2021

Tomato Rasam

 I seem to have this urge to write down all the recipes of the things you both like. My grand mother used to be a good cook and most of the recipes, she took them to her grave. You both met her, just about briefly. 

So, I am wring down these to ensure you both have something to make, for comfort food. Currently when I make it, i add a little scrambled eggs with salt/ chili powder along with rice. You both would sit side by side on the couch and when I feed you, you both can eat bowl after bowl while watching some movies :)

In a pressure cooked, add 2 tomatoes, 1/2C water, 1 tsp each salt/rasam powder, sambar powder. cook for 4 whistles. Release pressure, mash the tomatoes using a spatula, add 2 cups of water. Thats it. If you want Tadka, just heat a tsp of oil in a separate pan, add 1/2 tsp mustard seeds (let it splutter), cumin seeds, curry leaves, a pinh of hing. add this to tomato rasam. 

Enjoy with hot rice and ghee. 

Comic book (page) by Megha...10 days or so ago.

 Megha's sense of humor is something that has developed so much lately. The girl cracks me up :)

She loves to write comic book kind of pages and meme's :); below was when she was waiting in the car while i had gone inside a store to pick up a few things (she wasnt too well and didnt want to come out). 

Below is typically what a Saturday morning looks like at Reddiar household:

Megha happily lying down on the couch watching TV

Tanush walks in saying "I want Sponge Bob....now!!!!!" 

Megha winks and says, "Nope"

The fight ensues. 

Whats really funny is that, this happens almost on all Saturdays and typically follows exact same sequence :) 

From Daddy's hands...

 Its been 3 weeks since you both started school and lets just say, the morning hustle and bustle is never ending, even though, I try to plan things in advance. By advance, I mean the night before.

I think I have made abundantly clear to daddy that I cannot comfortably manage making breakfast, lunch, 2 snacks and still manage to login at 7:30 AM. So, he is making an effort to step in to ease the morning rush. 

One of the things I personally like about his cooking is that he makes things very colorful. In yesterday's lunch he cooked pasta (al dante...he doesnt like it if its over cooked). Butter up the pan, cut up 3 2 hotdogs, sauté until cooked, then add thinly sliced carrots and chopped up broccoli. Season with salt and pepper and toss back the pasta. Lunch is served. 

When you have kids of your own, I hope you both make this for them (and of course yourself as this is easy to prep). Its really delicious. 

When daddy is not home....

 ...you both fall sick. Every. Single. Time. 

Makes me second guess myself as a mom. Megha had a belly ache/nausea this morning and I got a call from school to pick her up. Only way to send her back is when we know she is fine, but of course. 

That meant, we had to get her Covid-19 test done; poor poor thing. Her nose hurt and she was afraid. Now, we need to wait for results which can take anywhere between 24-72 hours.