Instagram Notes

 Over the years I must have saved thousands of posts on Instagram ranging from recipes, Eateries and   cafes in London, Self Motivation, enhancing productivity and sometimes places to visit in Jaipur/Delhi.

I want to keep them in one place where I can read/revisit them frequently and thought of recording them in my blog.

Must Try Recipes 

1. Instant Pot Masala Macaroni from Cook With Manali
2. Tomato Rice from Sneha Singhi
3. Paneer and Vegetables in a creamy sauce from Life With Spices
4. Chickpea Salad from  Life With Spices
5. Broccoli and Paneer Stir fry from Adhya
6. Restaurant Style Gobhi Tikka Masala from Nidhi and Rahul
7. Lentil Salad from Fun Food and Frolic
8. Bhapa Doi from Food Fashion and Party
9. Stir Fry with veggies from Life with Spices
10. Tomato Rasam from Sneha Singhi
11. Kada Prasad from Veg Recipes of India
12. Pindi Channa from Sneha Singhi
13. Vegetable Thukpa from Sneha Singhi 
14. No Onion Garlic Paneer Masala from Sneha Singhi
15. Kadhai Paneer from Sneha Singhi
16. Restaurant Style Yellow Dal Tadka from Sneha Singhi
17. Rasam from Kunal Kapoor
18. Dhaba Style Chana Dal Fry from Kunal Kapoor
19. Soya Chunks dry curry from Life With Spices
20. Pesto Paneer Salad from Akshika Jain

Party Recipes 

1. Chickpeas Chaat Board from A Garnish Bowl
2. Chana Chaat Cups from Fun Food and Frolic

Diwali Recipes 

1. Cornflakes Dry Fruit Mix from Rekha Kakkar

Notes from the week gone by

•  Commenced my New Year by going for a guided walk following City Walks Guide to in and   around  Sloane Square. The pack of 50 interesting walks has been with me for donkey's years  but   never formally followed a walk. So what better way to start New Year's Day !! 
• A & N reluctantly accompanied me but at the end they enjoyed having to be just able to get out of the house. I couldn't follow the walk to the T but nevertheless covered quite a bit. Points of interest for me was Buddhist Temple from Chelsea Embankment / Carlyle House / Cheyne Walk / Chelsea Physic Gardens ( closed )
• Concluded our day with visit to our friend's house for Dinner of Gujrati delicacies / Chilli Paneer / Mix Pulao / Ice Cream
• Watched " My Old School" on BBC I Player. The movie is about Brandon Lee who falsely enrolled himself in a secondary school claiming to be a 16 year old when in reality he was 30
• Kids back to school mid week and ultimately back to reality about getting back to routine
• Picking up listening to Podcasts which got side tracked for months now.. This week I listened to " More or Less Behind the Statistics: Numbers of the Year 2022 and Can China's data on Covid deaths be trusted? 
• Walked to Gidea Park Library.. and both A&N got a book each. N is into learning French so she got one covering that and A got a Step By Step Chemistry book
• Kicked off my Reading Challenge for 2023 by a book from Avni Doshi "Burnt Sugar" which is part of a book club from work
• Made Chole / Rajma Rice / Methi Aloo / Tindora Sabzi / Palak Paneer over the weekend

Domestic Diva

• Friday evening i went straight to Aa cricket session at Becket Keys Sports Hall.Once finished we picked up Ni and headed straight to our usual place for dinner “ Delhi Live”.We had among ourselves Dal tadka / Mix Veg / Tandoori Chicken / Rice and Naan.Kids had a scoop each of their favourite bubble gum ice cream.
• Saturday morning I dropped Ni to her art class and went to my gym.Did 1 hr and 20 minutes of cardio and burnt 1200 calories.
• Came home for lunch and then sent Ni to Explore learning while I pottered around the house. Once she finished her session we went to our coffee place Harris + Hoole.I ordered hot chocolate for her and green tea for myself.
• Since As and Aa were not due back home early I headed for Brewery to browse HomeSense, a home decor store.Somehow the store disappointed me this time.I felt there was nothing substantial but all junk stuff in the store.Anyways I bought a flower vase made in Poland for £4 and a felt Easter theme basket and a medium sized fabric tub to keep small toy figurines and books respectively.
• For dinner Ni had quorn chicken nuggets and I had store bought falafel wraps.We all slept by 9 pm as I was super tired and with all day's running around.. 
• Since I slept early I woke up early too.. I found myself awake at 4am but got out of bed at 6.It's very rare I get a chance for a lie in and so i grabbed it with both hands😄. 
• I cooked Panchmel daal / runner beans with potatoes / paneer with carrots / bell peppers / carrots / beans - perfect rainbow vegetable.
• Vacuumed the full house and ironed the clothes and managed to put another load of washing and prepared pack lunches for 2 days for me and kids. 
• Took Ni to Explore learning and I ventured into my high street for some retail therapy.. Bought a vintage looking gramophone from British Heart Foundation and stocked up on provisions like Green& Blacks dark chocolate bars/Valentine heart chocolates / tulip chocolate flowers / bottled green chillies / frozen green beans / candles.
• After picking Ni up from tuition centre we went to Starbucks and had hot chocolate topped with cream and marshmallow twizzle for her and green tea for me.I also started reading psychologies magazine from my old stash...
• Came back home and did usual evening bits - took out uniforms and my outfits for Monday / packed the school bags and As did his packing for India trip. 
• On my bed at 8:30 pm and hoping to catch some good 💤💤💤

Midweek Rambles

This week so far

• Read about Ann Lee Hussey  - on her personal mission to eradicate Polio ( Real Simple June 2012) 
• Set a reminder for myself - relax and enjoy simple rituals. 
• Browsed LinkedIn Daily Rundowns - love bite size news specially “ Idea of the Day”. 
• Cooked and eaten Matar Paneer, Dahi wale Aloo, Mushrooms with Cashews curry, yellow lentils ( my fav) 
• Indulged in back massage and a facial at my local beauty academy.
• Dreaming about my holiday to India and making mental notes about what to shop and eat. Following Instagrammers for inspiration... 
• Researching on restaurants which i can book for As birthday in August this year.