Happy Pregnancy!!

No other event causes as much distress as pregnancy. If you trust your instinct, it will give you what you need during this entire roller-coaster ride. Here are a few tips for a healthy & happy pregnancy.

It is wise to take folic acid supplements before trying to get pregnant. The chances of getting pregnant is high during the ovulation period and there are many webpages present to calculate this precisely. Ovulation test kits are also available in pharmacies and supermarkets.

Do a Home pregnancy test, before making an appointment to see your doctor or midwife. You will be amazed to realise what a difference a day makes. Horrible pregnancy symptoms during their first trimester may be disappointing for some women. But remember, "You are not a patient; you are just a normal woman who is pregnant". Well... this is what I was told, when I was carrying my little one. But, trust me - these words do revive you. So, don't spend too much time in worrying about silly things. Enjoy each and every moment... It may be strange, but special.

Stop taking any medicines you might already be taking. Always consult a pharmacist before buying anything.

Register yourself on various pregnancy related websites (usually free) such as pampers, bounty, babycentre, askbaby, babiesonline, ivillage, etc,... and participate on forums. Nothing is left undiscussed and your weekly pregnancy updates falls straight into your inbox... Not to mention the freebies.

Aviod smoking and alcohol: Try non-alcoholic alternatives or avail support from your local helpline (Kindly look at my External links section for helpline webpages).

Anxiety is the permanent companion when it comes to labour. Understanding what is causing would fade away some fear. So, don't fail to view some gentle delivery related documentary and home videos. It is worth watching and you will surely know when to pause.

Finally, don't allow your feelings let you down. Find someone to share and no doubt it would be the wonderful feeling of your life.

Panic relief mantra

Fear is an unpleasant sensation when something alarming happens to us. It surges adrenalin & its related chemicals faster into our bloodstream and alerts us to respond rapidly. It depends on the situation, whether we find this sensation excited or the other way around. For instance, a roller-coaster rides are fun eventhough it stimulates panic attacks. It maynot be so, when the controller fails to operate in the middle. The only thing that we can do is deep/relaxed breathing, which would prevent nasty things happening to our body due to panic attacks than what leads to that.

Is ideal life a question mark?

Things have become so easy these days. Luxury can be crawled on our hands in a jiffy. A normal employed person:
- Can avail Home Loan, own a house and pay his mortgage early
- Can buy a new car, bear the cost of Car Insurance (no matter if it is a Cheap auto Insurance or not)
- Can allocate some money for his family's Health Insurance/Life Insurance/Travel Insurance or whatever
- Can make use of some sophisticated services like Medical Claim, Accident Compensation, Personal Injury & so on
- Can take advantage of Student Loan for daughter's Surgean dream
& the list goes on & on...

But, is this really going to make any connection with our life. By being friendly & smiling, we'll have helped ourself to feel good inside & be in a bright frame of mind. Curiosity crackles when we think whether this would be probable.

Children's Play Group: horror for the parents

Play groups can be an fun for the kids. But horror for the parents & carers. Getting up early (during the winter as well) in the morning, getting the little ones washed, changed, breakfast with a spoon fight, goes on & on & on... Just in time to the play group after all the early morning traffic hurdles, without having their own breakfast... Grab a floral plastic cup for a cold milk in queue with the other parents... The milk is ready, but where is my pound? yeah, I found it... Then, park my pram on an easily accessible corner, hide the belongings with my huge winter jacket. Only then realised the cheeky monkey is half asleep (gentle pram cuddle ofcourse). Hey you.. not now.. get down and play (I paid). When he started exploring, I parked myself on a warm corner seat. By the time I started sipping, they all fight for the same toy...

Chick peas recipe (healthy snack)

Ingredients:
Chick peas - 1 1/2 cups
Coconut powder - 1/4 cup
Dried mango powder - 2 tbsp
Roasted gram - 2 tbsp
Red chilli powder - 1 tsp
Salt - As reqd
Coriander leaves for garnishing

For seasoning:
Oil
Mustard seeds
Black gram
Cumin seeds
Asafoetida

Preparation Method:
1)Soak the chick peas in water overnight.
2)Boil them with the required amount of salt. Drain the water and keep them aside.
3)Grind the coconut powder, roasted gram, dried mango powder, red chilli powder together with a pinch of salt and some water.
4)Heat small amount of oil in the pan.
5)Splutter the seasoning ingredients.
6)Add the chick peas and stir well.
7)Add the ground paste to it and cook for 5 mins.
8)Garnish with coriander leaves.

Spicy chutney (substitute for pickles, humous...)

Ingredients:
Tomato - 2 nos
Garlic pods - 5 nos
Red chillies - 4 nos
Coriander leaves (chopped) - 1/4 cup
Green gram - 1 tbsp
Red lentils - 1 tbsp
Salt - As reqd
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Coriander seeds - 1 tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Black gram for seasoning
Oil - As reqd for seasoning

Preparation Method:
1)Saute the red lentils, green gram, coriander seeds, red chillies and cumin seeds.
2)Grind them with the other ingredients.
3)Heat small amount of oil in the pan.
4)Splutter mustard seeds and black gram.
5)Add the ground paste to it and cook for 5 - 10 mins.
Serve with Idli, Dosa, Bread, Tortilla, Chappathi,...

Spicy Vegetable Biryani (Authentic & best ever)

Ingredients:
Basmati rice - 2 1/2 cups
Onion - 2 nos
Garlic pods - 10 nos
Ginger - 1" piece
Oil - 2 tbsp
Ghee or Butter - A scoop of tbsp
Chopped tomatoes - 1/2 of the tin
Green chillies(small) - 2 nos
Bell peppers - 1 - 2 nos
Mushrooms and Vegetables - As your wish*
Lime or lemon juice - 2 tsp
Yoghurt - 2 tbsp
Spices(Any kind would be nice - Ground or fresh
Cloves
Cinnamon
Cardamom
Garam masala - 1 spoon
Biryani masala - 1 spoon
Royal curry powder or chilly powder - As reqd
Turmeric powder - 1/4 of a small spoon
Salt - As reqd
Coriander leaves

*Can use potatos, green peas, carrots, beans, cauliflower... Mixed vegetables would be great & easy. Otherwise we can also use fresh ones depending on the availability. To be frank, I use to add whatever I catches to my hand when I open the refrigerator. But do not use cabbage or green leaves.

Preparation Method:
1)Grind garlic, ginger, one-fourth of the onion & green chillies together with a little amount of water & keep aside.
2)Wash the rice & soak it in the water & keep aside.
3)Heat oil & ghee/butter in a pan.
4)Add the remaining onion & fry them until it turns to golden brown.
5)Add the spices to them & saute for 2 mins.
6)Add the ground paste & fry for 5 mins.
7)Add the tomatoes, turmeric powder, salt, garam masala, biriyani masala, royal curry/chilly powder to it & cook for 5 mins on low flame.
8)Add all the vegetables, bell peppers, mushrooms & close the lid & cook for 5 - 10 mins.
9)Drain the water from the rice & add to them & stir for 2 - 3 mins.
10)Add lime juice & yoghurt to it & stir well.
11)Add 5 cups (same 1:2 ratio of rice & water) of water to it & close the lid.
12)Cook until the rice is done in the stove or in the oven.
13)Finally, add the coriander leaves for better flavour.

Suggestions for better taste:
1)Oven cooking tastes better.
2)Serve with mint or onion flavoured yoghurt.
3)It is not necessary to use all the spices & masala powders. We can use what we have. But for perfect Indian taste, the specified things would be better. Garlic-ginger-chillies-onion paste is the magic & we can very well feel that, when we add them.

NO NO's in the kitchen

Washing pots & pans... NO NO...
Chopping onions... NO NO NO NO...
Refilling sugar... NO NO...

What are all your NO NO's in the kitchen guys???

Do's & don'ts when a guest arrives

The topic may be silly... But, there are quite a few rules that you should follow to entertain your guest.

• A pleasant smell at your house entrance will do all the magic. But, try not to make them faint.
• Come out with your own drinks menu rather than asking them what they want.Don't offer them loads to drink, if your toilet is not clean (of course... to avoid embarrassment).
• Switch-off the TV, unless you have other chores to be done. In that case, let them own your remote control & feel comfortable.
• Two-way communication makes everyone happier.
• Nasty or sweet whatever.. do something (food, for example) they can remember for the rest of their life.
• Walk them to their car at the end..

do share what you came across like this...