Tuesday, 24 May 2022

New Mommies Dilemma - Baby Products

When a new baby is born or before that you plan and make a check list of things you need for the little one.. Starting from Diapers to Prams.
First and foremost thing you require during the initial days are Diapers, swaddle cloth, cloth nappies, massage oil, Diaper rash cream (a must), coconut oil, comb/hair brush, rompers, baby bath, baby cream, face cream, mittens, booties, cap, dry mat to name a few . 
For new mommies, feeding bras, maternity dresses, maternity pads, breast pad, massage oil and a good night sleep 😩
There are many brands for baby products, so you are spoilt with choices.
I will give the product names which I used for my new born. 
Swaddle cloth - Any soft cotton dupatta
Dry mat - Luvlap /Baby hug
Diapers - Pampers Active baby premium pants 
Cloth Nappies - Baby hug (with velcro) Massage oil - Mama earth / Mommy pure 
Diaper rash cream - Ezinapi (a must) +coconut oil
comb/hair brush - Baby Hug /Luvlap 
Rompers - Babyhug /Mother care
Baby BATH - Himalaya /Dove baby 
Baby CREAM - Himalaya
Baby Lotion - Dabur Baby /Himalaya 
Face cream - Mommy pure
MITTENS - Babyhug
BOOTIES - Babyhug 
CAP - Babyhug 
Baby wipes - Mother care
Shampoo - Spoo (excellent for cradle cap) 

So you must have noticed that the brands I have chosen for my new born is all local and cost effective.. I vouch for these brands quality and price.. Please don't fall trap to the expensive international baby brands.. As we say that one should eat what you get locally.. Same principle I apply when buying products for myself and my baby. 

The above brands are mostly made in India and give value for money.. Think this way when we were babies, did our parents had access to such international expensive brands.. We did turn out well... Isn't it? 


Saturday, 14 May 2022

New Mommies Dilemma - The Start!

 My cousin sister Disha, is a physiotherapist. She has started her new Venture titled as "Health&Her". She believes in holistic approach towards Women’s health. Hence, provides consultancy and runs group and individual classes with a focus on women's health and overall development.

In September 2020, I already mommy to a 6yr old daughter, Srishti, got pregnant and was taking my ante natal classes under her guidance. Fast forward, June 2021, I got blessed to another beautiful angel, Kiva. My cousin asked me to join her WhatsApp group "Health and Mommies 2021". The group consists of about 87 mommies or to be mommies across the globe.. All Indian women trying to help each other on various dilemma of parenting, and tending their new borns, toddlers, etc. With or without help of their parents, in laws and try to get best out the plethora of information they come across. 

They discuss and raise queries about everything under the sun related to their health, baby's health, food, poop color, medical views so on and so forth. 

I find this group very helpful, informative and sometimes funny.

I intend to do some zoom in and out of the various topics, queries and experiences shared on that forum.


Sunday, 12 September 2021

Ganesh Chaturthi Special - Mawa Modaks

Ingredients-
200 gm - Mawa (khoya)
1/3 Cup - Brown Sugar
1 Pinch - Elaichi powder
2-3 Strands - Kesar /saffron
1 tsp - Milk (soak kesar)

Method-
1. Grate or crumble Mawa and mix it well with Sugar 
2. Heat a thick bottom pan and add the Mawa.
3. Now with continuous stirring cook the Mawa Sugar mixture for 20 mins till it thickens.
4. Add the saffron Milk and elaichi powder to this and mix it well.
5. Remove it from the flame, put it on a greased plate and let it cool down.
6. Fill it in Modak moulds and serve it to Ganapati Bappa...



Saturday, 16 January 2021

Cravings#3 Chambura Upkari (Mangalorean/Konkani Bhel)

Prep Time - 10-15 mins
Cooking Time - Nil 

Ingredients :
2 Cups Puffed rice 
2 Tbsp Coconut oil 
1 Cup Chopped onion 
1/2 Cup Chopped Tomato
1/4 Cup Grated Carrot 
1 Tsp Finely Chopped Green Chilli 
2 Tbsp Chopped coriander leaves 
1 Tsp Sambhar /Rasam powder 
1 Tsp Salt 
1 Tsp Lemon juice 

Method :
1. In a mixing bowl take chopped onion, tomato, Grated carrot, green chilli. 
2. Add salt, sambhar /Rasam powder and now add puffed rice and oil. Stir it well and garnish it lemon juice and chopped coriander. 
3. Serve the spicy puffed rice, fondly called as Chambura upkari in konkani households along with tea /coffee. 

Cravings#2 Khichiyu or Khichu or Papadi no lot

Prep Time - 5 mins
Cooking Time - 10 mins

Ingredients :
1.25 cups  Water
1/2 Cup Rice Flour 
1 Finely Chopped Green Chilly (Spiciness As per your taste) 
1/4 Tsp Baking soda 
1 pinch Carrom seeds
1/4 Tsp Cummin seeds 
1/2 Tsp Salt 
1 Tbsp Groundnut Oil (for serving) 
1 Tsp Pickle Masala (for serving) 

Method:
1. In a pan boil water, add chilly, Cummin seeds, carrom seeds, salt and baking soda. Let it boil for 3 - 4 minutes. 
2. Now add rice flour and stir until it is mixed and has no lumps. 
3. Close the lid and allow it to simmer on a low flame for 6 minutes or until the rice flour is cooked. 
4. Now serve it hot and steaming, sprinkling it with Groundnut oil and pickle powder. 

Thursday, 14 January 2021

Cravings# 1 - Gujarati Daal Dhokli

Prep Time - 10-15 mins
Cooking Time - 30 mins

Ingredients - 
FOR DAAL:
▢½ cup toor dal, washed, rinsed and soaked 
▢1½ cup water
▢1 tsp oil
▢2 tbsp peanuts
▢1 tsp ghee / clarified butter
▢1 tsp mustard
▢½ tsp cumin / jeera
▢1 chilli, broken
▢pinch hing / asafoetida
▢few curry leaves
▢1 tomato, finely chopped
▢1 tsp ginger garlic paste
▢1½ cup water
▢¼ tsp turmeric
▢¾ tsp kashmiri red chilli powder
▢¼ tsp cumin powder
▢½ tsp coriander pwoder
▢¼ tsp garam masala
▢small piece jaggery / gud
▢¾ tsp salt
▢1 tsp lemon juice
▢2 tbsp coriander, finely chopped
FOR DHOKLI:
▢1 cup wheat flour / atta
▢¼ tsp turmeric
▢½ tsp kashmiri red chilli powder
▢¼ tsp ajwain / carom seeds
▢½ tsp salt
▢2 tsp oil
▢½ cup water

Method - 
Cooking Daal :
1. In a cooker take ½ cup washed and soaked toor dal, 1½ cup water, 1 tsp oil.
2.  Keep 2 tbsp peanuts in a small bowl. 
3. Pressure cook for 5 mins or until the dal is cooked well. 
4. Allow the steam to fizzle out of the cooker. Remove the boiled peanuts and keep it aside. 
5. Stir the daal to mashed consistency. 


Making Dhokli :
1. In a large mixing bowl take 1 cup wheat flour (you may add 1 Tbsp) Besan ¼ tsp turmeric, ½ tsp chilli powder, ¼ tsp ajwain, ½ tsp salt and 2 tsp oil. 
2. Combine well until the spices are mixed well. 
3. Add ½ cup water and knead it into Smooth and soft dough. 
4. Take a ball sized dough, dust with wheat flour. 
5. Roll to slightly thick consistency like chapati. 
6. Heat a tawa and roast the chapati. 
7. Cut into diamond shapes or size of your CHOICE. 

Making Daal Dhokli:
  • in a large kadai heat 1 tsp ghee and splutter tempering.
  • further add 1 tomato, 1 tsp ginger garlic paste and saute until tomatoes turn soft and mushy.
  • add in cooked dal, 1½ cup water and mix well adjusting consistency as required.
  • also add ¼ tsp turmeric, ¾ tsp chilli powder, ¼ tsp cumin powder, ½ tsp coriander powder and ¼ tsp garam masala.
  • combine well making sure all the spices are mixed well.
  • additionally add cooked peanuts, small piece jaggery, ¾ tsp salt and 1 tsp lemon juice.
  • once the dal comes to a boil, drop in dhokli pieces and give a good mix well.
  • cover and boil for 10-15 minutes or until dhokli is cooked completely.
  • finally, add 2 tbsp coriander and enjoy dal dhokli with hot steamed rice.