Ground nut chutney

Ground nut chutney is made often in my house. Whenever it is idlies for breakfast, ground nut chutney should be there. So I had to find a simple recipe by trial and error. I leave the skin on the ground nut to retain the nutrients. It gets done in a jiffy.

 Ingredients:

Ground nuts (with skin): 1 cup 

Green chillies, chopped: 1 no.

Cumin seeds (Jeera): 1/2 tsp.

Garlic pods: 3 - 4 nos.

Finely chopped Coriander leaves: 1 tbsp.

Salt: to taste 

For garnishing (tadka):

Oil: 1 tbsp.

Cumin seeds: 1/2 tsp.

Mustard (Rayi) seeds: 1/2 tsp.

Red chilli (optional): 1 broken into 2 pieces

Method:

Roast groundnuts, Green chilli pieces,Cumin, garlic pods, and salt. Put them in a mixie jar (small). Add salt. Grind to a powder. Add water and grind it to a paste. Take it into a bowl and mix finely chopped coriander leaves to it.

Heat oil in a pan and put cumin and mustard seeds, when they start to splutter, add red chilli pieces. Add enough water to make a semi solid consistency. Pour the oil mixture over the chutney and mix well.

Ideal with Idlies. Can also be eaten with dosa, rice or rotis.

Silk Kurta with applique work

The final look of this salwar kameez happened accidentally. It was meant to be different.

This outfit I did a while back. I had the off-white pure silk material which I wanted to make into a kurta. I was lucky to find salwar and chunni / dupatta materials in matching prints. The salwar material being thicker synthetic / polyester type and the chunni in chiffon like. 

I finished stitching the salwar and kurta. I wanted to put embroidery on the kurta dn had bought suitable threads, mirrors and beads etc. There was quite a bit of material left over from salwar. While watching TV, I kept snipping the printed left over material, and Voila! I had the flower motis neatly trimmed. 

If you remember as kids we would cut paper into different shapes, It turned out something like that. I must have had restless fingers, I cut quite a few pieces.

Then a brain waves struck, and wondered how will it be if I simply stuck these printed pieces of cloth on the kurta instead of embroidering etc. Sure enough it looked good. 

Then I arranged various pieces strategically around the neck, in the middle, and at the bottom corner.

Initially I stuck them on the kurta with fabric glue at places just to keep in place, and tacked it around the edge, with a loose running stitch and then, did a neat blanket stitch with matching silk embroidery threads.

 

Since I already bought the mirrors, I stuck them with fabric glue. The total outfit turned out well. Even after several washes (in the washing machine too), the applique, mirrors are still in good condition.

Know your Money - Rs.500 note

All of you have seen a Rs.500 bank note.

Can you identify an original currency note from a fake one? 

 Obverse side

 Reverse side

Every original currency note has 9 security features. If your note doesnot have one or more of these feature, then your note is a fake one. 

According to the Reserve Bank of India, all original Rs.500 bank notes should have the following security features:

1.  Watermark: The portrait of Mahatma Gandhi,  multi-directional lines and an electrotype mark showing the denominational numeral “500” appear in this section and these can be viewed better when the bank note is held against the light.

2.  Security Thread: 3.00 mm Security thread with inscriptions “Bharat’ (in Hindi), RBI and colour shift from green to blue when viewed from different angles. It will fluoresce yellow on the reverse and the text will fluoresce on the obverse under ultraviolet light. The thread is visible as a continuous line from behind when held up against the light.

3.  Latent Image: The vertical band contains latent image showing the numeral 500 when the banknote  is held horizontally at eye level. 

4.   Microlettering: The letters ‘RBI’ and the numeral ‘500’ can be viewed with the help of a magnifying glass in the zone between Mahatma Gandhi portrait and the vertical band. 

5.  Intaglio Printing: The portrait of Mahatma Gandhi, the Reserve Bank seal, guarantee and promise clause, Ashoka Pillar Emblem on the left, RBI Governor's signature on the bank note and the identification mark for the visually impaired persons are printed are printed in intaglio which can be felt by touch.

6.  Identification Mark: A circle with Intaglio which can be felt by touch helps the visually impaired to identify the denomination.

7.  Flourescence: When the notes are exposed to ultra violet light, the number panels, which are printed in flourescent ink and optical fibers of the notes can be seen. 

8. Optically Variable Ink

The colour of the numeral 1000/500 appears green when the note is held flat but would change to blue when the note is held at an angle. The font size is reduced.

9.   See Through register: Floral design printed both on the front and reverse in the middle of the vertical band next to the water mark window has the denominational numeral “500”. Half the numeral is printed on the observe and half on the reverse. Both the printed portions have an have an accurate back to back registration so that the numeral appears as one when viewed against light.

Note: Currency notes printed before 2005 do not have the year of printing printed on the reverse side of the note. Those printed after 2005, have the year of printing at the bottom on the reverse side. RBI said all such notes printed before 2005 have to be exchanged for newer notes from banks. The deadline ended on April 1, 2015.  

Ear Ring Holder 1

All those of you who have a big collection of junk / costume jewellery must have faced the problem of storing them. I love ear rings and love them in different materials, colours, sizes and shapes.

I have them in Gold, Silver, beads, pearls, precious and semi precious stones, wood, seeds, bone, glass, shell, thread, etc.

Have you noticed that the ear rings with hooks get tangled up when you keep them all in a box or a case? Most of the time, you will find one ear ring that you want to wear but not its pair, especially when you are in a hurry? I had that problem often. Not any more!

I made a holder / board (for the lack of a better name) on which I hung all my ear rings with hooks. It is kept the board on top of a wall unit, at eye level.

• From a packing box, I cut out a flat piece of side panel and smoothened the edges with scissors.
• The ear rings were made into different categories based on their size. I knew how many rows and what distances they should be hung.
• Drew horizontal lines across and marked points for making holes.
• With the help of a pointy tool, made holes on the markings.
• Stuck metallic lace all round for decoration.

Finally I hung up my ear rings on the holder. There seems to be extra space for a few more pairs! 

Now they are easy to remove and put back. They are safe from scratches and breakings!

Is India Senior Citizen friendly?

Is India as a nation, senior citizen friendly?

India is a nation of 1.23 billion people in July 2014. It is a young nation. It is expected to be the most populous country by 2025. Out of 1.23 billion, those between the ages 15 - 59 are 72.9 billion or 60.3%; and people aged 60 years and above are 10.32 crores or 8.6%, as per 2011 census.

What does the census show?

It seems to me that there above 10 core old people / senior citizen as of now, and the number is going to grow rapidly in the near future. Soon we will also be joining the ranks of the 'Elderly', ie. if we have not already.

My questions are:

'Are our urban spaces equipped to cater to the elderly?' 

'Are our public spaces, transport, road and traffic rules senior citizen friendly?

'Are our outdoor spaces, Public spaces and buildings, and transportation  designed keeping in mind the needs and requirements of the elderly?'

If you look around, you do not see many elderly people going about their chores by themselves, in our busy cities. If they are out, they are mostly escorted by a younger person. Why is that?

Because our urban spaces are very unsafe and scary for the elderly! We need an environment which is considerate and supportive.

In a press release issued on 20th. Dec 2010, by Anglia Ruskin University,

'Better Spaces for Older people 

New research reveals that older people need to feel comfortable in urban surroundings to maintain independence

Urban planning needs to consider how older people use walking routes as well as public areas, concludes a Research Council UK-funded research project from the New Dynamics of Ageing Programme. Planning should include a smooth transition between walking, driving and using public transport and should take account of how older people navigate between these. 
The research was conducted by academics from Swansea University, Kingston University, Middlesex University and Anglia Ruskin University.

Initial findings show:

·         Signs are of limited use even in unfamiliar new areas - they were often positioned incorrectly or too high, and without indicating the distance to the destination;

·         Designing outdoor spaces that are more easily navigable and walkable are important in making the environment less stressful and anxiety-inducing;

·         Buildings and landmarks are particularly important as navigational aids, especially churches.

...There is still a need to understand older people's various requirements in their use of space, reflecting their diversity and different backgrounds'.

Mixed Lentil Curry

It is my favourite. Instead of using one variety of lentil at a time, and also the taste can get boring, I buy them all 250 gm. each, and mix them up. You can also use sprouted ones.

This recipe gives a lot of proteins, great taste and easy to prepare. 

Mixed Lentil curry

Take any combination of lentils with skin intact,

eg: Toor dal (Pigeon Pea)

Moong dal Greengram),

Urad dal (Black gram),

Chana dal (Bengal gram),

Lobia (Black eyed pea),

Dried Mattar (pea),

Matki (moth bean),

Alsane (red cow peas) etc.

Ingredients:

Mixed lentils – 2 cups

Tomatoes (chopped) – 2 nos.

Salt  - to taste

Onion (grated or made into a coarse paste) – 1 no.

Chilli powder – ½ tsp.

Garam Masala powder  (optional) – ½ tsp.

Turmeric powder – ¼ tsp.

Ginger garlic paste or garlic paste – ½ tsp.

Oil – 2 tbs.

Cumin seeds – ½ tsp.

Raw Mixed Lentils

Method:

                                                                            

Clean and soak the mixed lentils over night or for 4 hrs and more.

Cook them in pressure cooker until they are cooked soft.

Heat oil in a pan, add cumin seeds. When they start to splutter, add onion paste and ginger garlic paste. Fry until lovely aroma comes. Add chopped tomatoes. Cook them till they become soft.

Now add cooked lentils to the onion tomato mixture. Keep stirring to make sure it does not stick to the bottom.

Add turmeric powder, salt, and chilli powder.

Mix 1 cup water or whatever consistency you like. Add garam masala powder and let it cook for a few min, and switch off the stove. You can add fresh cream if you desire.

It is very healthy and tasty too. Can be eaten with rice, rotis, or puris.

Bottle gourd with sweet cum sour mango curry

Summer is the season for MANGOES! I love them; sour, sweet and sweet cum sour! We eat the sweet mangoes or make juice out of them. With sour / raw mangoes, you can use them in cooking or make chutneys or pickles. There are always a few raw mangoes which start to become ripe. What does one do with them? They are not sweet enough to eat, and not sour to cook with. This is what I did ….

Ingredients

• Bottle gourd – small one
• Sweet cum sour mango – 1 no.
• Mustard seeds & Cumin seeds – ½ tsp.
• Green chilli, cut into small pieces – 1 no.
• Curry leaves – a few
• Salt – to taste
• Turmeric powder – ¼ tsp.
• Oil – 2 tbs.

Method:

Clean and skin the bottle gourd. Cut it into 1 sqcm. pieces.

Take out skin from the mango too. And cut it into pieces.

Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds and cumin seeds, and then green chilli pieces and curry leaves. When they begin to splutter, put bottle gourd pieces into the oil. Cover the pan and let it cook in low heat. When the vegetable is half done, add turmeric powder and mango pieces. Stir well and add salt. Cover and cook until the vegetable and mango mixture is tender.

Tastes sweet and sour and goes well with rice or roti.