#sareespeak #womenofsareespeak

#kanjivaramsilk #kanjivaram #themeofthemonth #SSrules

#SS 33/100/2020

Attended a kutcheri by Daughter #1 at a friend’s home. One in a series of kutcheris leading up to Krishna Jayanthi.
Theme based. The theme she was asked to explore was compositions of Composer Oothukaddu Venkata Subbier. Well presented, with her main piece being Enna Punniyam Seitheno in Ragam Reethi Gowlai. Alapana, Kalpana swaras were spot on. The piece de resistance was the Kalinga Narthana Thillana made famous by Padmashri Aruna Sairam, which
she did her own take on.Turned out pretty well. Some of the other pieces were Shri Vignarajam Bhaje, Asainthadum Mayil, Adathu Asangathu Vaa Kanna with swara prastharam in chinnanchiru pathangal, Alaipayuthe, Madananga Mohana. Concert was live zoomed. 
Ambience was divine as the host hostess had a beautifully decorated altar with Krishna idols, bhajans at the end of the evening.
Home. In high spirits.
And Daughter#2 emerges from her bedroom to ask us to turn on the TV.
There it was.
PM Jacinda Ardern and DG of Health Dr. Ashley Bloomfield informing us the country was going into Level 3 lockdown as of 12pm the next day until Fri 11.59pm.
Checked our office phones, emails.
Daughter#2 and husband were to move to online study/Work.
Daughter#1, essential health worker, had to go to work.
I too being an essential worker, was required to work from home, cancel all face to face appointments, and provide remote support as much as possible.
And there was a drop in spirits as we had a wonderful event planned in a week or so. All plans in limbo. Some tears. Some comforting hugs, discussion on contingency plans.
Had draped a gorgeous rich double toned blue Kanjivaram with gold buttis, with deep maroon and gold borders and pallu.
Photos were taken by Husband before event, and Daughter#2 in her Yellow room, after the concert.
Daughter#1 Had draped a kanjivaram brown with Krishna themed embroidery on body and Baby Krishna eating off a pot of butter on border. But am adhering to SS Rules here,  so will not feature her or Saree in this post.
Am smiling as we hadn’t received The News as of time of photo shoot.

A lunch in between Work.
Vegan Tom Yam fried rice with Store bought vegan Tom Yam paste.
A little rasa satham with left over rasam.
Some thayir satham.
Lots of appalam and multi coloured sago and potato crisps.
A few fried curd chillies.
Fried Frozen vegan dumplings.
Lunch, back to work.

And therefore, dinner was grilled sandwiches for some, pasta bake with leftover pasta and sauce for one, Korean shin ram yin noodle soup with a dollop.of thai Tom Yam paste for the other.

#onepotmeal #lockdownsimplemeal #minimalisticmeals #recyclefood #leftovers #NoJudgementPlease is this even a hashtag? #servelovegive #cookwithlove #cooknoairs #vegetarian #vegan #eggless #mykitchen #simplefood #kitchendiaries #comfortfood #bitesbybavani #bluffsbybavani #inmykitchen #kitchendiaries

Krishna Jayanthi/Janmashtami/Gokulashtami.
Worked from home.
Prasad for Evening Puja.
Onion garlic free.
Coconut rice with roasted freshly grated coconut, tempered with light spices, cashews in coconut oil.
Seedai. Courtesy husband.
Rava halwa. Semolina, ghee, milk, cardamom powder, brown sugar.
Also made some chilli sambal with onions to have with the coconut satham.
Krishna’s little footprints outside front door, at entrance, at altar.
Prayed, for good health, peace of one and all.

#onepotmeal #lockdownsimplemeal #minimalisticmeals #recyclefood #leftovers #NoJudgementPlease is this even a hashtag? #servelovegive #cookwithlove #cooknoairs #vegetarian #vegan #eggless #mykitchen #simplefood #kitchendiaries #comfortfood #bitesbybavani #bluffsbybavani #inmykitchen #kitchendiaries

Seedai. Uppu seedai.
Husband tried his hand at it.
The last time I tried, it flew up to the ceiling and even managed to get into the formal hall. And ended up on the living room TV. Thank goodness no bluff-chefs were injured then, in the Making of this relatively innocent snack.
A dough is kneaded, tiny balls are rolled to create this crunchy, savoury snack.
Had class, then helped roll as he fried.
Forgive my sometimes not round shapes.
All for Krishna Jayanthi/Gokulashtami.
Munched on some, last night after Puja.
Prasad was..but that’s another post.

#onepotmeal #lockdownsimplemeal #minimalisticmeals #recyclefood #leftovers #NoJudgementPlease is this even a hashtag? #servelovegive #cookwithlove #cooknoairs #vegetarian #vegan #eggless #mykitchen #simplefood #kitchendiaries #comfortfood #bitesbybavani #bluffsbybavani #inmykitchen #kitchendiaries

A dinner. Yesterday’s dinner. Two Dinners.
As usual, a poles apart match or mismatch.
An Indian Italian Marriage.
Boiled some spaghetti and made tomato basil parmesan pasta sauce.
Then, found leftover dosa batter in the fridge.
Added semolina, chopped green chillies, ginger, coriander leaves, curry leaves, yoghurt, cummin seeds, hing, turmeric and chilli powders.
Made gundu dosa or rava appe or paniyaram. Round fluffy goodness.
Added freshly grated coconut to yoghurt, green chillies, ginger, coriander leaves, lightly tempered with spices.
A ‘cool’ coconut patchadi to go with spicy gundu dosa.
And while I was unceremoniously conducting this marriage, husband was making seedai for Krishna Jayanthi. More about that in my next post.

#onepotmeal #lockdownsimplemeal #minimalisticmeals #recyclefood #leftovers #NoJudgementPlease is this even a hashtag? #servelovegive #cookwithlove #cooknoairs #vegetarian #vegan #eggless #mykitchen #simplefood #kitchendiaries #comfortfood #bitesbybavani #bluffsbybavani #inmykitchen #kitchendiaries

A Lunch.
Steamed french beans, sliced-in-my -idea-of-fine-manner, tempered with fresh grated coconut, white lentils, mustard and cummin seeds, dried chillies, hing, turmeric powder.
Paneer, marinated and fried with ginger, garlic, onions and chilli powder.
Okra kuzhambu/gravy.

#onepotmeal #lockdownsimplemeal #minimalisticmeals #recyclefood #leftovers #NoJudgementPlease is this even a hashtag? #servelovegive #cookwithlove #cooknoairs #vegetarian #vegan #eggless #mykitchen #simplefood #kitchendiaries #comfortfood #bitesbybavani #bluffsbybavani #inmykitchen #kitchendiaries

Early Cheer.
An apt name.
For these divinely gorgeous flowers that are heralds of spring.
Went berserk, placing them in vases, in bowls, at the altar.

#sareespeak #womenofsareespeak

#silk #themeofthemonth #SSrules

#SS 32/100/2020

I have no idea what to write about. The week has disappeared in a flurry of activity. A week ago, I was rushing to music exams, holding extra music classes for anxious students to pacify even more anxious parents.
And Today,
What on earth has happened to today?
It began early with a coffee, and a browsing of SS posts, then?
Am now in bed, heat pump on, under the quilt, deciding on what to write.
SS rule #8 says Post should include a writeup,
SS rule #9 that Post must be about Me.
Am so sleepy.
Should I philosophise?
Should I ramble on about my past week or the week ahead?
Before I nod off, and erase the memo on which I am typing this,
Or add a string of identical letters as my finger taps a letter and stays there while I snore,
Until my husband nudges me, “Bavani, you’re snoring”, and I retort like a 5 year old, “No, that’s you snoring”,
I have decided I will write about my long, uneventful day,
Coffee.
FB browse.
Hot drinks, breakfast for the family.
Folded clothes piled on guest room bed.
And I mean landfill pile. Guest room.is now an unofficial warehouse of sorts. Books, gifts, piles of unironed clothes, 2 fans, laundry basket, ironing table, need I go on?
Put away folder clothes.
Daughter#1 was practising for a concert on Monday and trying to complete some work due on Monday.
Daughter#2 was nose deep in an assignment.
Vaccumed half the house, and got her to vaccum the rest, and dust the hall and rooms.
All this while, husband was attempting something in the kitchen.
Took over the kitchen, made a quick lunch of creamy mashed spinach, brinjal hot curry, rasam. Hubby deep fried some marinated okra and made a salad.
Cleaned up kitchen, power napped, tea.
Made some goodies for an upcoming function.
Packed and stored them in pantry.
Prepped my version of Enchiladas with leftover frozen wraps- chia seed and hemp, red capsicum and sundried tomatoes; with a filling of spinach and ricotta cheese; spread tomato basil sauce, and parmesan, mozzarella cheese over it. Baked to decadent cheesy perfection.
Cleaned kitchen yet again.
Daughter#2 asked me to do a tik tok video with her.
Yes, I am forced to do these weird tik toks and if I disagree, am told that I don’t love them 😶🤨.
Stared at her so hard, she furtively retreated to her bedroom.
The day is almost over.
And so is my post.
The chores can wait for another day.
Draped a purplish blue silk with light stripes and maroon/gold pallu and maroon, light purple, gold and orange borders. Not draped today, definitely not today.
Today I was in 3 sets of batik caftans after showers.
And SS rule #5 says post freshly worn sarees – Draped this two days ago for a music class at home.

Attempted a pancake. Shall call it a pancake. Could be a dosa by any other name.
Rice flour, mashed potato, green chillies, capsicum, carrot, coriander and curry leaves, tomatoes, cummin seeds, crushed black pepper, chilli flakes, salt to taste.
Way back in the early eighties, as a student in Melbourne, a treat was the Pancake Parlour’s potato pancake, a crispy delight, oozing with melted butter, ooh so bad for the heart, but those were the carefree days of youth.
This has turned out to be a relatively healthier gluten free alternative. Didn’t turn out like the plump,   airy ones in the photos but came a close second.
Served it with a green coconut, chilli chutney and dosa podi. Loved it, family loved it, gave the leftover batter to some friends at work.

#onepotmeal #lockdownsimplemeal #minimalisticmeals #recyclefood #leftovers #NoJudgementPlease is this even a hashtag? #servelovegive #cookwithlove #cooknoairs #vegetarian #vegan #eggless #mykitchen #simplefood #kitchendiaries #comfortfood #bitesbybavani #bluffsbybavani #inmykitchen #kitchendiaries

A quick feel and taste good green dish.
Steamed broccoli, tempered with garlic, spring onions and chilli flakes.
Fresh and full of flavour.

#onepotmeal #lockdownsimplemeal #minimalisticmeals #recyclefood #leftovers #NoJudgementPlease is this even a hashtag? #servelovegive #cookwithlove #cooknoairs #vegetarian #vegan #eggless #mykitchen #simplefood #kitchendiaries #comfortfood #bitesbybavani #bluffsbybavani #inmykitchen #kitchendiaries