MATERNAL CHIT - CHAT

Office parties are increasingly becoming the venue for pitting the working mother against her stay-at-home sister.Whether you are there in your own right or as your partner’s guest,maternal chit-chat is bound to have you questioning your decision.Office parties are much easier for working mothers to handle as they are on their own territory among colleagues and find it that much easier to talk about home as well as work.But the full-time mother who is there courtesy her partner,has probably just made after coping with the child’s tantrum or dropping her father at the hospital and feels a little insecure among people who are at best acquaintances.

If you are a working mother you wonder if your children are alright on their own and the guilt leaves you doubting yourself.But you know you are the kind of mother who would never have been happy without a job.And you console yourself with the thought that because you are working,you are a happier mother when you are with the children.

On the other hand a woman who is not working outside the home may feel inadequate about not working as well as running a home and looking after children.Once you are happy with the choice you have made,it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks.You are no longer defensive about your full time mum status and revel in dispelling the notion that all stay-at-home mums do is have their hair done and attend kitty-parties.Full-time mums are the ones who are hard pressed for time,juggling all kinds of chores that working mothers have long delegated to others.Either way for most mothers, experience brings confidence and security and happiness in the choice they have made ----- HOPEFULLY!!

Delicious and Nutritious Family Meals - 3

Another lovely meal for you and your family.All the recipes are enriched with vitamins,minerals and energy.These are so much time saving and you can enjoy a healthy delicious meal with family spending some quality time with them.

POTATOES WITH SWEETCORN AND FRENCH BEANS

200gms potatoes; 100 gms whole baby sweetcorns; 100gms French beans; 20 gms butter

Cook the halved potatoes in lightly salted water for 7-8 minutes,then add the baby sweetcorn and French beans and cook for a further 7-8 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.Toss in butter before seving.

Goodness quotient : This interesting combination of vegetables provide a lot of vitamins and minerals.Potatoes are rich sources of starch and potassium,which are very good for the heart.

MACARONI WITH CAPSICUM AND TOMATOES

3OOgms macaroni; olive oil; 2 large capsicums,deseeded and diced; 3 tomatoes,diced; salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

Cook macaroni according to package instructions in boiling salted water.Drain.Heat some olive oil or any other cooking oil and add the tomatoes.Cook for a minute  or two,then add the capsicum.Cover and cook for a few minutes till the capsicum is soft,add seasoning and then toss in the macaroni.Mix well and serve hot.

Goodness quotient : A carbohydrate-rich dish,which is enriched with beta carotene and vitamin C.

BAKED APPLES WITH RAISINS

4 apples,cored; 120ml apple juice or water; 2 tbsp raisins; a little powdered cinnamon; 1 tbsp honey; a little butter or margarine.

Prick the skins of the apples with a fork to prevent them from bursting.Put 1 tbsp raisins into the centre of each apple,sprinkle with cinnamon and pour honey or maple syrup over them.Put them in an ovenproof dish and pour the apple juice or water around the base.Top each with a little butter.Bake in an oven pre-heated to 180 degrees C for about 45 minutes.

Goodness quotient : This recipe is a good source of edible fibre,good for diabetic patients in the family.Despite all the sugar in the dish,this is one dessert that the patient can enjoy a small helping of.It also provides vital calcium and potassium to everyone else.

CHEERS!!!!!!!

The Girl Who Did Not Talk

There was this little girl who at six months gurgled and drooled and made lovely baby sounds.As the days went by and she turned one year old the babies next door,and her mother’s friends’ babies all started saying words : Mama,biscuit,doggie,bow-wow.But this little girl continued to chuckle and chuckle but not a word!

Mother and Father grew anxious.Took little baby to the paediatrician.The doctor checked her nose,her eyes,her ears,her mouth and exclaimed,”she is perfectly alright,she will talk.”Days grew into weeks,into months and the little baby was now a year and a half.Parents again went to see the doctor.The doctor again checked her nose,her eyes,her ears,her mouth and exclaimed,”Be patient,the baby is perfectly okay and she will talk.”

Baby was walking,making noises,making herself understood,but not talking.Now she was two years old and the parents were getting tense and worried.Baby used to visit the grocer with her mother and the grocer was a kind man who always gave her a banana.One fine morning as they drove by the grocer’s shop,suddenly baby sang out,”I love banana,I want banana.”Father was stunned,mother almost fainted with happiness.”She is talking! She is talking!”And now we wish she would stop talking!

This little baby is ASHITA,my darling.Now three and half year old.A full-time story-teller,making her own description of new goings-on.She is a chatter-box and we just love her a lot.!!!!!!!!!!
This song actually shows how I experience to be her proud mom……

 “ALWAYS BE MY BABY”  DAVID COOK


We were as one babe
For a moment in time
And it seemed everlasting
That you would always be mine

Now you want to be free
So I'm letting you fly
Cause I know in my heart babe
Our love will never die!

Foods and Fads: DELICIOUS FAMILY MEALS - 2

Foods and Fads: DELICIOUS FAMILY MEALS - 2: "Here is another fun-filled cooking day for you with easy to make and healthy recipes.I bet you are going to love them. WHOLE TOMATOES IN..."

DELICIOUS FAMILY MEALS - 2

Here is another fun-filled cooking day for you with easy to make and healthy recipes.I bet you are going to love them.

WHOLE TOMATOES IN WINE

8 firm tomatoes; 8 tsp red wine; salt and pepper;lettuce leaves to serve if desired.

Cut 8 large squares of double thick foil.Cup each tomato in foil but do not completely enclose.Pour over one teaspoon of wine and season to taste with salt and pepper.Mould foil around tomatoes securely to prevent juices escaping.Cook these packages in a moderate oven for about 10 minutes.Unwrap and transfer to serving plates,spooning wine-flavoured juices over tomatoes.Serve on a bed of lettuce leaves.

Goodness Quotient : Flavoured tomatoes with wine are good source of beta carotene and vitamin C.Red wine is also good for the heart.

POTATO AND SPROUT PUREE WITH CHEESE AND NUTMEG

500 gms potatoes,peeled and diced; 250 gm sprouts; salt and freshly ground black pepper; large knob of butter; good pinch freshly grated nutmeg; 50gm cheese,grated

Cook the potatoes in boiling salted water for about 15 minutes until tender.Drain,then mash with the sprouts,seasoning,butter and nutmeg to taste.Spoon into a heatproof dish,sprinkle with cheese and grill.

Goodness quotient : A nutritious snack for children.This dish provides protein,energy,fat,calcium and a good amount of B complex and vitamin C.

BUTTERED CARROTS

350 gms carrots; salt and freshly ground pepper to taste; 20 gms butter

Scrape or peel 350 gms of carrots and cut into fingers.Steam for about 10 to 15 minutes until they are just tender.Then add seasonings and butter to taste.

Goodness quotient : A nutritious finger food for all,which provides beta carotene and fat.

CHEERS!!!!!!!!!!