Jab We Met and how I miss my space ...

You know how it is, when are you are living abroad,  go back  HOME (your paternal home) for vacation and you go around the whole place looking out for any new additions, may be a new wall clock, a new plant ... you wardrobe would be just the way it was the way you left it during your past visit. ......  all the nostalgia sets in...

and, thats how exactly i feel now. NOSTALGIC ....



I keep giving excuses of not being able to be consistant with my blogs, Gosh ! my Pick Quicks had just 4 posts in 2014 . (hopefully, 5, in 2015 atleast )

Not a positive note to start a New Year yeah ? the first post of the year . Hmmm...i know....but on the brighter side... to bring in some smile...just sharing...a concidence factor.

My first post last year...and my 100th post was a guestpost by The Big Sweet Tooth lady, Rafeeda.

The ever consistant, smily faced ...she knows the art ! The art of blogging, i have to say. Her posts are regular, her visits to others places are regular...I really envy you Rafeeds !!!

                                  My 100th . thats the post she wrote for me last New Year...

and....  this New Year...

 



there we are !!!!

Bingo !!! Jab We Met !

Never did believe we could make it, but finally, on the day of our return after a week vacation in the UAE, we did manage to catch up at a Supermarket next to her home. It was just for a brief while; the kids were restless, my neice had lost hercell phone, and it was all kinda chaos, yet...some chit chat and a click !!

 

Was great meeting you in person, dearo.

 

Wishing you all the very best in this New Year and to all my dear co-bloggers as well.

 

 

from us !!!



 

So, till i can manage to make some detailed posts in here....(by the way, forgot to mention, i now keep my recipes and tips as simple few liners, and post it directly on the my fb page - Sona's Pick'y Bank) ...

 

i miss you all and ......

  tooo ;)

 

 

Oats Cookery Workshop Part 2 : Recipe No4 - Oats Cornflakes Cookies

in continuation to the previous post -

Recipe 4 - Oats - Cornflakes Cookies.

Oats Type Used - Regular Quick Cooking

Recipe Type - Snack

 

 

Ingredients:  

Cornflakes : 1/4 cup
Oats - 3/4 cup
All purpose / wheat flour - 4 tsp
Sugar - 1/4 cup
Ghee / oil – 1/4 cup

Method:

1. Grind oats & cornflakes & sugar into fine powder & keep aside.
2. Add the flour & oil to the mixture & make it into smooth dough.
3. Take a baking tray & line with the aluminium foil/baking sheet. Make a small pinch of the dough, flatten it slightly with little pressure & make small sized cookies.
4. Place these cookies in the refrigerator for 15-30 mins.
6. Meanwhile preheat the oven at 180 deg for 10 mins.
7. Remove the baking tray from the refrigerator & place it in the oven. Bake it for about 15mins or till the base of the cookies turn slightly brown.
8. Once the cookies are done take it out from the oven place it in a cooling rack & then store it in the air tight container.

roughly shaped





 off to the oven. Placed a butterscotch chocochip in the centre

Notes:
White sugar can be replaced with demerara sugar ( brown sugar).
Placing the cookies in the refrigerator gives extra firmness & texture to the cookies.

 

Pediasure Popsicles (they'll love it, for SURE !)

 Pediasure, for sure..is considered the No.1  nutritional supplement that provides complete, balanced nutrition for children from age 1 to 10 – those special years of rapid growth and mind development.

 

When consumed in proper amounts, PediaSure is scientifically formulated to provide 100% of the energy, vitamins and minerals, and a balance of protein, fats, and carbohydrates that children require for growth and health.

 

 

During schooldays, with them leaving home before 7 am, kids would definitely not be willing to take a proper breakfast. Something quicky, light and it indeed is a challenge for us to keep it whole . With my younger boys, aged 6 and 4.5, a serving of Pediasure is defintiely going to be their breakfast/ part of it. It is filling and sure to keep them full till the break time in school.

 

 

And with the available flavours - vanilla, chocolate and strawberry...the latter is the most prefered . And I am always on the look out for some "sale" or "offer" on the product, to buy quite a few of them to stock, as they definitely are highly priced; almost double the regular ones.

 

 And popsicles are always a delight especially during summer, so for a change, this time..decided to keep it the "healthy" way.



 

 

Assemble all the ingredients...mix..freeze !

Made a portion of Pediasure (as per the instructions on the pack, which is 5 scoops to 190 ml water).... add some condensed milk for the added sweetness...

 

...some Hershey's strawberry syrup to enhanse the added flavour and colour...

and off to set.

 

It would take a couple of hours, in regualr plastic moulds and trust me, the little hands would be ready to snatch it off even before you manage to get a picture of it. Cant blame them..it defintiely is NICE !

 

 

Came across the below recipe image while browsing..so decided to share it in here as well.

 

 

 

 Click on this link "here" for some other nutritious recipes using Pediasure, while my Boy . No 2 takes his share....



 

njoy .... darling !!

Oats & Prices @ Kuwait Market & some DIY hair treatment solutions using Oatmeal

An Englishman and a Scotsman were discussing oats. The Englishman, with his nose in the air said     

"In England we feed oats to our horses, and in Scotland you feed oats to your men...",

to which the Scotsman replied      

 

"...that's why in England you have such fine horses and in Scotland we have such fine men!" :P :P

 

                           ******************************

 

In continuation to one of my previous post :  

 

Oats - A case study 

 

which is all about the common doubts that we have about Oats...... What is all with these different types..steel cut, rolled, old fashioned, latest fashioned.. ;), quick cooking..slow cooking.... which type can be used for what type of cooking...does the health benefits vary with each types...so so on.....

 

this, however is specifically for those here in Kuwait, about the different varities available in the market, WITH the PRICE TAGS...and of course, some interesting DIY hair care solutions using OATS.

 

Never thought of that ?? Read on...

 

 

Went shopping last weekend..kids were back home...hubs was browsing elsewhere..so the happy-me got some perfectly "me" time to peacefully look around the aisle and be clicking specifically having this post in mind.

 

The most colourful was this Instant flavoured Oats section. Literally..any flavour...with fruits, nuts, spices...PRESENT SIR !  The Indian savoury ones are yet to hit the market thou. (pictures clicked @ LuLu Hyper market, Kuwait)

 

 

At around KD 1.700 - KD 1.900 they are about 10 (or 8 ??) individual serving sachets per pack. Handy for a quicky     on-the-go run. Just add hot water and M/W or leave on counter top for a few minutes.

 

 

Dont get the logic here. Old fashioned and Quick cooking ones both at the same price !! KD 2.250. I would in this case definitely go for the old fashioned one as the second seems to be highlt priced for this particular packing.

 

 

 

Same here... Quick Cooking Rolled Oats and Old Fashioned Rolled ones..again at the same pricing. KD 1.640. hmmm... Again, would go for the Old fashioned in this case too...

 

 

Bob's Organic Red Mill-Steel cuts  @KD 2.140 for 680 gms.

 

 

 

 

 500 gms Oatmeal - less than 1/2 KD .

 



 

 

while this brand is definitely much highly priced than the previous. KD 1.850 for a less than 1/2 kg pack.

 

And , now for some Did You Know facts...

 

Unrelated to oatmeal the food, there is a town in Texas called Oatmeal. It's 56 Miles northwest of Austin putting it nearly smack dab in the very middle of the state.

 

 

 

 I'm not sure if they eat oatmeal in Oatmeal, but it's a curious fact none the less (or maybe not). !!!!

 

Did You Know ...

Oatmeal can be a best sudstitute to a deep conditioner for hair.

 

Check out this video .

 

 

DIY Oatmeal & Honey Moisturising Deep Conditioner

 

Did You Know ...

 

Oatmeal does a great job as a dry shampoo as well. Seriosuly !!
 

 

You can use oats and baking powder to create your own dry shampoo right at home. Rd.com suggests, “Put 1 cup oatmeal in the blender and grind it into a fine powder. Add 1 cup baking soda, and mix well. Rub a bit of the mixture into your hair. Give it a minute or two to soak up the oils, then brush or shake it out of your hair (preferably over a towel or bag to avoid getting it all over)

More about it here.  

Hope this post was helpful to you, as much it is to me.

                           ******************************

 

 

Snake Gourd - "chikkie" Egg - Burji

 

Snake Gourd - CHIKKI - Egg - Burji



When I started this blog, my second attempt in blogging, I had named myself - The Teflon Frypan. You know...the kinda surface, to which nothing sticks. Now dont get me wrong...its as far as my hobbies are concerned. Like to cook, click and to write. But the problem is ... its now kinda soo difficult to get all these three going on together.

 

With at present, more into clicks, for my fb page..its soo evident the neglect on my two blogs.

 

And feel really touched..and warm..when i get someone around enquiring...about my disappearance from here, really really appreciate it !!!

 

It was just about 2 months or so, that I was kinda away from here...but, it definitely seem like ages. Have a lot of catching up to do. Will try to drop by most of my dear co-blogger friends' place..

 

Akhi CHIKKI Laaki CHIKKI....CHIKKI...Laaki Chum...

 

The Bijli ki Rani , Sridevi....is back with a big bang. Sure, no Indian would ever forget one of her besty perfomance spewing  gibberish like --

 

I see Lucy.... You see Lucy..... Haasi Tussi..... Laasi Peesi..... Mombassa King Kong !!!!!  (what in those lines...lol)

 

                                                 ************************************

 

Flew to India twice during this break..one to Delhi, and other back home to Kerala ..but both short visits..less than a week each.

Did a lot of sight seeing, shopping @India capital...caught up with old time schoolmates and family @home... was fun.

 

 

Bum CHIKKI CHIKKI Bum..CHIKKI bum bum...CHIKKI bum...

 

those of my generation will still cherish this soo hearty song

 

*************************

 





Alright, back to work !

 

Sharing a  very simple recipe..quite common in our household .

 

 Snake Gourd - Scrambled Egg Burji.

 

 

 

 

Ingredients:

3 tsp oil...
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
1 onion (finely chopped)
3 green chilies (finely chopped)
2 garlic pods (crushed)
Few curry leaves
200 grams snake gourd (chopped into small pieces)
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
75 gms freshly grated coconut
Salt to taste
2 eggs

•Heat oil in a pan, add the mustard and cumin seeds, let them splutter for a minute.
• Add onion, garlic, green chilies, curry leaves and fry them until the onions becomes soft.
•Now add the snake gourd, turmeric powder, grated coconut, salt and mix well.
• Cover the lid and cook until they becomes soft and tender.
•Move the vegetable mix to a side, then break the eggs in same pan, mix well to break the egg yolks and keep mixing until the raw smell goes out from eggs.
•Finally add coriander powder and mix everything well and fry 2 more mins, then switch off the flame.

An easy side dish for rice.

 

...even decades later...CHIKI's keep poping up.

 

I wanna Chiggi wiggi  with you boy...

featuring another gorgeous lady all the way from Oz - Kylie Minogue

 

*************************

And what with all these CHIKKI songs ??

hee hee...nothing much..just that for my kids..scrambled eggs are "CHIKKI" eggs and so, just got in all the "chikki" songs too to compliment.

;)



 
 

Will be-right-back....till then...

Hi dearest co-bloggers, friends....

 

I know i have not been here much the last few days, or weeks infact and couldnt drop by your spaces too. Just got tied up with a few other nick nacks..was posting more on my "Pick Quicks" blog and my fb page. We flying off to Delhi for a week, so was busy with that.

 

Hopefully, I will get to drop by your spaces after I am back...

 

and for the mean while, jsut sharing the link to the latest post on "Pick Quicks"

 



"My Thykoodam is famous" !!!

 

Thats my place in Kerala, where my paternal home is "Thykoodam", the name gone soo famous now with the formation of this new musical band that has gone viral all over social media...called "The Thaikkudam Bridge". 

 

All the beautiful old melodies, breathing a new fresh air.

 

Do drop by in there, for some lovely music.

 



 

(and..just to share....a closeup of the (MY) "mango -tree" that i have mentioned in the above post. The best mangoes ever...100 % homemade !!!

 

Those who luk closer, can see a teddy bear hanging in there amongst the mangoes...a suicide!!!! (omGodd!!)

 

..well...lol..not exactly...will write about it as my next post on Pick Quicks. ;) )

 

Take care..catch you all later..once am back after the vacation.

 

Gonna give a try if I can stay off internet for atleast a week !!!

 

Stay happy..keep smiling.

 

 

 

Yogurt and Heat - dont you worry !

Many a times,  going through recipes that uses yogurt in cooking, I have always wondered..."but, does not it curdle ? Can yogurt be used in dishes while cooking on high heat ?...many doubts in these lines lingered, until I happened to read about it.

Just sharing few points that I came across, which eventually, did clarify my doubts in this regard.

* How to prevent yogurt from curdling when making curries?

 

Yogurt is a major ingredient in making Indian Curries. The cow-milk yogurt will separate when heated beyond a given point, unless it is stabilized.
 

In the olden days, yogurt for cooking was made from freshly drawn buffalo whole-milk. It did not curdle with heat. Technically, foods high in proteins and acids (yogurt has lactic acid), become unstable with high heat. Higher the butter fat, proportionately lower is the amount of protein, that is the case with buffalo-milk yogurt.
 

You may choose to add Cow-milk yogurt at the end of cooking to minimize effects of high heat. The only problem is that spice flavors will not fully permeate the yogurt.

* Steps to prevent yogurt from curdling during cooking

Following steps will prevent yogurt from curdling
 

1. Use whole-milk (high fat) yogurt.
 

2. Stabilize yogurt by whisking-in starch before cooking. Add one teaspoon of cornstarch, or 1½ teaspoon of other flours (Atta, Maida, or Besan) to one cup of yogurt.
 

3. Minimize thermal shock to yogurt when adding to curry being cooked. First shut off the heat. Start with yogurt at room temperature and not directly from the refrigerator. At this point, you may add starch to stabilize yogurt. Temper yogurt just like eggs are tempered in making custard. Raise yogurt temperature gradually by mixing hot curry sauce little bit at a time to the yogurt. After the yogurt temperature has risen sufficiently, add it to the curry. Turn on heat to finish making curry.
 

4. When the yogurt is made, it is not stirred during incubation, so the structure of yogurt is set in a matrix. After adding yogurt for cooking, stirring vigorously will break down the matrix and cause separation. Gently fold-in yogurt by stirring in one direction (either clockwise or anticlockwise), till the yogurt is well blended.
 

5. Sometimes, it is possible to fix the yogurt after it has separated. Shut-off heat. Make a paste by mixing one teaspoon of cornstarch (or two teaspoons of all-purpose flour) with ½ Tablespoon of cold water. Stir paste into the separated mixture. Gently heat curry to let it thicken and recombine the yogurt. Repeat if necessary.

 

 lol  :P

* Recipe for Stabilized Yogurt

Cow’s milk yogurt will separate when heated beyond a certain point.

 

Use of stabilized yogurt will minimize separation.

 

1. Whole-milk plain yogurt: 1 Quart

2. Large egg white, lightly beaten: 1

3. Cornstarch: 1 Tablespoon

4. Salt: 1 teaspoon
 

Mix all ingredients together in a heavy saucepan. Whisk. Cook over moderate heat, stirring, in one direction until mixture starts to bubble and comes to a boil (approximately 8 minutes). Reduce heat to moderately low, and simmer until thickened, it will take approximately additional 4 minutes.
 

Stabilized yogurt can be stored in the refrigerator for 2 weeks

 

...or.....

 

You can also stabilize cow-milk yogurt by stirring-in a starch to the yogurt before cooking. For starch, you can use any flour: Besan (Chickpea flour), Atta (whole-grain wheat flour), Maida (All-purpose flour) or Cornstarch. Cornstarch is flavor neutral.

 

"now...this, was the kinda tip that I was always on the look out for !!!".

 

 

.......will be right back, with a yogurt sauce based recipe..now..that I no longer need to worry about yogurt getting curled due to heat.

 

Until then..keep smiling...have a great day ahead !!!

Awards # New 3 in 1 FB page # hugs

Big hai to my dear co-bloggers !
Was literally away from blogsphere for about 2 weeks or so....and am I not really glad to have received 2 awards during that time.

The VERSATILE BLOGGER AWARD

 

by pretty-patty Pooja of "Being Beautiful and Pretty" blog. A place worth visiting where she writes about home remedies , product reviews, makeup tricks , latest fashion trends ..... anything and everything....and....

 

 

the AWESOME BLOG CONTENT AWARD

 

by Aara of Sweets & Spices.  Knowing her was a very pleasant surprise. Writing to her that I was her latest follower, especially after going through her perfectly white instant rava idli's , the reply what I got was of someone who was a "silent follower" of my blog, ever since she started blogging!!! That was indeed surprising.

 

 

Of course, i agree there will be many people out there, who wouldn't want to be shown out as followers, and its one's own personal approach, i truly acknowledge that. But with me, I am more than happy to know it if you like my space....atleast, it will take me to your space as well.

 

So, for Pooja and Aara,

 

 

 Thanks  a bunch, both of you !

 

 Also in here, officially, introducing to you, my new facebook page -

 

THE PICK'Y BANK.

 

The links to my 2 blogs and the rest are all now in one space under 3 different albums :

(food blog links)

 (non-food blog links)

 

(musical notes and pictures)

 

Thanks to all who pulled in their suggestions and ideas - really really appreciate it. For you all as well....

 

 

oh well  ...i'll RESTART !!! ;)

 

Back to the award..the rules...

 

The Versatile Blogger Award

 

1) If you are nominated, then you are awarded the Versatile Blogger Award

     (received with thanks)

2) Thank the person who gave you this award (done, with a hug)

3) Include the link of their blog (done)

4) Nominate 15 bloggers for the Versatile Blogger Award (below)

5) Finally, tell the person who nomiated you (done) & things about yourself.

 (about myself,well... I have written quite a bit on my previous Leibester Award post. It's in here)

The ABC Award

 

The rules are simple:

1) Add the ABC logo to your new blog post (done)

2) Write one word or a phrase about yourself that begins with A, B, C, etc.

        (  Well for me, i take "b" for being " blessed" )

3) Nominate some blogs (below)

4) Leave a comment on their blogs to let them know. (definitely !)

 

My nominees for the Awards are:

 

1. Remya Elizabeth of Remya's Baking & Cooking

2. Rafeeda of The Big Sweet Tooth

3. Amelia of Amelia's Dessert

4. Asha of Food, Fashion, Party

5. Chitra of Indulge

6. Meena Kumar of Elephants and the Coconut Trees

7. Nawal of Love from Kitchen

8. Sonali of Sonali's Kitchen

9. Tinku of Daily Chores

10. Priya of the Humpty Dumpty Kitchen

11. Manju of Manju's Eating Delights

12. Akila of Learning-to-cook

13. Vidya of Akshaypatre Recipes

14. Shibi of Flavz Corner

15. Shella of Kitchen Art

 

And, the 15 of you receive not one, but both these Awards ! PLUS...PLUS....a virtual hug too !!..

ooh..think my PC, rooter and the net connection got hanged trying to passover the "HUGie - buggie" .

 

Think this would be the only way out to reach it to you ;)

and I , get a "like" on my fb page in return ?? ( not a bad deal, yeah??)

 

Will be back soon with some "sweet" recipe.