Mini Vacation

When Raj and I first started dating, he suggested we take a short trip to Gatlinburg TN for the weekend. This was about our third week of dating and it was at that suggestion that I knew this was the man of excitement that I had been waiting for (and boy was he!). Since then, Gatlinburg has become sort of special to us. We've been three times now! This last one was this last memorial day weekend.

I wanted to do something extra special for him this Valentines. In Feb. he came home after visiting his parents in India for a whole month. He came back the day before Vday and even though he was exhausted and jet lagged he wined and dined me, I owed it to him! I was lucky enough to come into some money at that time, and while I admit it was a fast, not so smart decision, I booked us a cabin in Gatlinburg for our four day weekend (but as usual, SO worth it).

Waiting almost four months to go was super hard, but so worth the wait. As usual we had a blast. The view from these cabins is phenomenal. We love grilling, and sitting in the hot tub with a drink in hand. This particular cabin had a pool table even. I think Raj and I were due for a relaxing weekend (me especially, after this terribly exhausting school year!). 

If you've never been here, I HIGHLY suggest it. It can easily be a romantic vacation, one for a family, anything. There are tons of attractions and gift shops, not to mention the Smoky Mountain State Park, one of the most beautiful drives you could have.

Our cabin was amazing. Hot tub outside, giant garden tub inside, full kitchen, washer/dryer, grill, AND a pool table in the loft ( just to name a few! )

I don't get to grill at home as much as I'd like. Mosly because our grill sucks, and we could never get this kind of view from a grill at home! We grilled ribs, steak, and corn on the cob. I had made Raj a deal on the steak. He was saying he was full after two bites, so I said if he finished ALL of it, I'd buy him a pair of Nike's . . . he ate it all haha.

For $15 each we were able to rice a lift up the mountain. The view is incredible and we were so lucky that it was such a beautiful day!

While this treat was a bit costlier, we took a helicopter ride! So beautiful!

I thought I would share our trip. If anyone is trying to plan something for this summer, I highly recommend checking out Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge Tennessee USA. Totally worth it!

All of us, including our pup Zoe, had a great time!

I'm still alive!

Things have been super crazy, super busy these last couple of months. I'm finally starting to see a slow down and I'm so thankful.

I finally finished my year long student teaching. While I enjoyed the experience and I learned a lot, it's been incredibly hard. We all know that education isn't cheap, and not being able to work a paying job on top of that only makes it worse. I was student teaching 40 hours a week, having 2 three hour long night classes a week, hours and hours of lesson planning once I actually got home, and then I was able to make a meager income working a part-time job on the weekend.

I was starting to get so bogged down by everything that I ended up quitting the weekend job for my own sanity. I can't say I'm sorry I did it either. It was a job working in a home taking care of four physically/mentally disabled clients. It did have it's easy days, but three of the four wore diapers and if I wanted to clean up human poop I'd have been a nurse . . . or have a baby! haha.

As much as I love cooking I just didn't have the time for it! I'm also trying to be health conscious so I didn't want to resort to eating outside everyday. I have been prepping my meals, healthy meals, that aren't Indian (mostly boring stuff like chicken and veggies).

Meal prepping seems to be a pretty popular topic these days and I have a lot of people ask me how/what I do. I'm no nutritionist by any means, but if I got any interest from you guys I would be more than happy to share!

I'm still quite busy these days. I have one final summer class, and a pedagogy exam before I'm a full fledged bonafide secondary social studies teacher!

With everything else cleared out I've started substitute teaching. Aside from being in desperate need of income, this is a great way for me to get my foot in the door and meet different principles in hopes of landing a full time teaching position by August (how I long for my own classroom!).

I promise to try and stay more on top of my blog, now that I have no excuse not to!

ta-ta for now!

Sorry I'd been gone!

Hey guys!

I am so, so sorry it's been so long since I've posted. I've been finishing up my student teaching (tomorrow is my last day, yay!). Between coursework, student teaching, and putting in job applications I've barely even had time to cook!

Aside from not having the time to cook, I've been trying to lose weight so I've been meal prepping. Essentially every Sunday I plan out my meals for the week, cook it all up, and portion it out so it's all ready to go! It's actually been working out very well for me.

Alas, I was missing my Indian food. Luckily Raj was willing to take me and we went to this place called The Clay Oven.

If you ever go through the Indianapolis area I highly recommend them. At first I was a little worried we weren't going to have a good waiter, but he ended up being great and very nice!

For the apetizer we ordered something I had never tried before: Chaat Papdi. It was one of the most amazing things I've had in a long time. My mouth is watering now just thinking about it.

This dish is made up of puri, chole, curd, tamarind chutney, various spices, and a few others. If you've never had it I highly recommend it. Raj and I shared this and it was plenty. It was very cheap also, maybe around $5.

Raj ordered Paneer Tikka and I ordered the Tandoori Chicken Tikka. It was so delicious I actually had a food high.

Our meals came with basmati rice and tomato chutney and we ordered garlic naan. I also had a mango lassi for the first time (so much food, right?!).

Sooooooo good, but it was so much food. We learned that next time we will share a meal and only get one order of garlic naan instead of two. The next day I made chawal and dal to have with the leftovers. Can I just go there for dinner today? =)

Being Crafty

So right now I'm on Spring Break. Lovely, wonderful, get to sleep in until 12pm Spring Break! I did not want to waste the whole thing and I thought that I should finish a project I took on forever ago, so I did.

I have these two matching shelves that belonged to my grandmother. They're on the smaller side, but have been incredibly useful for storage, especially since we have SO much stuff crammed into a tiny apartment. I love these shelves, but they just weren't pretty to look at. They are in my dining room along with my solid wood table SO MUCH BROWN IN ONE TINY ROOM!!

I really wish I had remembered to take better "before" photo's, I forgot BOTH times. I guess that part wasn't meant to be.

I took these plain old wooden shelves and painted them white. I though they looked fab! However, I knew that I could step it up a notch. 

I (Raj) measured the space of each shelf (they don't come out) and cut that measured size out of foam cardboard. Then I wrapped each piece with fabric and stuck it in the back. I am now SO in love with these I just can't even. The best part about the foam board is that I can remove them and change the backing anytime! Thanks pinterest!

The only bad thing, is that I'm still needing to use them in my dining room for storage, so with everything on them it's hard to see the pretty backside!

That's okay though! Hopefully we'll be moving in the next year and I'll find a better use for them!

So I just thought I'd share what I had been up to over my break and hopefully spread out some inspiration! =)

Capsicum Paneer

I had been meaning to post this recipe for a long time. Whenever I'd make it, I'd either forget to take photo's or forget halfway through. Well, today I got everything I need! Finally!

This dish is ideal for a day where you might be craving a "light" meal. I always service it with dal and roti. I'm starting to crave it just thinking about it!

Let's get started!

Ingredients:

• Capsicum (bell pepper); Red, green, yellow, one of each
• 2-3 roma tomatoes, pureed
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 2-3 tsp coriander powder
• 2-3 tsp cumin powder
• 2-3 tsp red chili powder
• 1 tsp tumeric
• Salt, to taste
• About 1 c. paneer, cubed (learn more about paneer here)
• 1 tbsp oil

Directions:

1. Heat the oil in a pan. Once it's hot, add cumin seeds and mustard seeds. Once those start popping add the chopped onion.

2. While the onions are cooking, wash and cut your bell peppers! 

3. I usually start by cutting them julienne style 

4. Then I line them up and chop them into small, but size pieces

5. Have I mentioned that this dish is actually super pretty? So, so colorful! =)

6. Don't forget to stir your onions occasionally while cutting your peppers! Once the onions are cooked, add your pureed tomatoes. If you like it more dry, only use 2 tomatoes, and use more if you like more gravy. I usually use three, but you'll find what you like!

7. Let the tomato puree cook for a minute or two and then you can add the coriander, cumin, red chili, and tumeric powder. Also add some salt.

8. Give this a good stir and now you're ready to add your cut up capsicum

9. I add a little water to keep it from sticking. As you can see I added a liiiiittle too much, but that's okay! Most of it evaporated anyway 

10. Cook this for roughly 5-10 minutes, or until the peppers start to get tender. You can add water as needed if it starts sticking, and stir often.

11. While this is cooking, cut up your paneer into bite size cubes. The amount you use is up to you, Raj really loves his paneer so I tend to put more, but you can adjust!

12. Once the bell peppers are tender, add in the paneer

13. Let this cook for a few minutes warm, or until the paneer is heated through and viola! Yummy, delicious, light capsicum paneer!

Paneer

I felt that it was necessary to make a post dedicated to paneer, as I know a lot of people may not know what this is, American's especially.

Paneer is a type of Indian cheese and we actually use it quite frequently in our home. Rather than explaining what it is in every recipe that requires it, I'll just have this as a reference!

Raj once explained paneer to me the first time I had it. My first ever Indian food experience was at a restaurant called the Taj Mahal (so cliche!). He ordered our food for us since I had NO idea what any thing was. He ordered us paneer as the appetizer. He said to think of cottage cheese, the curds to be more exact. So I'm here imagining cold cottage cheese and then the waiter comes out with big cubes of this fried . . . stuff.

I won't lie. I wasn't a fan at first, it was too weird for me, but now I looooove paneer!

We usually purchase it from our local Indian grocer, however I've found it at our international market so you may have to look around to find it. I like to buy it frozen, but I've seen it in the refrigerator section also. You could also try and make your own!

My boyfriend's friends'

Hello! It's been far too long since I've posted. I'm in the final months of my program and things have been terribly busy! Rather than taking time I don't have to cook, I've been prepping my meals weekly (this also doubles to help in weight loss!) so I haven't had any new recipes to publish, don't worry though, I have tons more to share.

I had something on my mind tonight and I thought I should write about it. Raj has some amazing friends. I've had boyfriends in the past who had friends that I truly didn't care for. Everyone of Raj's friends that I've met so far have been some of the nicest, sweetest people I've ever met.

I had met other Indian's, in college. They all seemed so quiet, stand offish, and shy. I shouldn't generalize and I don't mean to, but this is just in my experience, so Raj and his friends came as a surprise! I feel that they've all been very supportive of our relationship, and that means so much!

Despite the fact that most of his friends now live far away, out of state, we do have one that lives in the same complex as we do. We hang out often!Yesterday he invited us over to try his culinary skills, and he whipped up this big, amazing dinner for us. It was very touching actually.

Raj enjoying that awesome dinner!

So, for those of you in a multicultural relationship, how do you get along with your significant others' friends?

Poha

I abslutely adore Poha. It's spicy, it has potatoes, what's not to love? Poha are flattened rice flakes. I'd never heard of them before I started cooking Indian food, but Poha can be found at your local Indian or international grocery store.

Ingredients:

• 1 c Poha*
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1-2 green chilies
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 2 tsp tumeric powder
• 1 tbsp oil
• 1 large potato, cut into bite size pieces
• 2 limes
• salt to taste

Like I mentioned, Poha is flattened rice flakes. I've seen the store selling two kinds. Thick and thin. I honestly don't know the difference, but I always buy the thick kind!

Directions:

1. Heat oil in a pan with high sides. Once hot add the cumin and mustard seeds.

2. When the seeds start to pop, add the onion and green chilies. Cook until onions are translucent.

3. Add tumeric powder and cook a minute longer.

4. Add potato pieces and stir well to distribute the tumeric powder. If the pan seems a little dry you can add a little more oil. Keep an eye on this and stir every so often so it doesn't stick to the bottom.

5. While the potato's are cooking, dump your poha into a colander and rinse in water. Let it sit for at least five minutes (just wet from the rinse, not soaking).

6. Once the potato's are fork tender add the poha and let it cook for an additional five minutes. Squeeze in the juice of one lime and add salt to taste.

Your poha is ready! It is best eaten with some toppings. We add peanuts (that have been fried!), pyaaz (onion with lime juice added), and bhujia (they're like little crispy sticks). There are different kinds of bhujia you can buy as well!

Valentine's Day 2015

We had quite a lovely Valentines Day this year. Raj was in India for a month for his sister's wedding and to visit with his family. He got home on February 13th. Just in time!

Even though we live in Indianapolis, we make the long trek to Chicago O'Hare because he can fly out cheaper from there. We decided that instead of rushing back home that Friday, we would just stay in Chicago and spend our V-Day there!

I picked Raj up around 3 p.m. It was SO wonderful to FINALLY see him after a whole month. That was the longest we had been separated since we started dating. It's kind of a weird feeling at first, but we quickly got over that and was right back to normal!

Raj had booked us a nice hotel. We decided that since we were in Chicago, it was probably best to do our V-Day dinner that Friday instead of trying to fight the crowds on the actual 14th.

We went to Giordano's for some deep dish pizza (and margaritas!). Raj and I agree that it was the best pizza we'd ever eaten in our lives.

We decided on a medium deep dish with BBQ chicken and green peppers. OM NOM NOM. This made for amazing cold leftovers the next day.

After dinner we decided to go back to the hotel. Raj was pretty jet lagged and I was impressed he was even able to go out for dinner that night.

So, the actual V-Day was no less spectacular! Raj took me to the Willis Tower (previously known as Sears Tower). At first I wasn't too thrilled. I mean it didn't sound all too exciting, but I rather enjoyed myself. Aside from being ridiculously cold, we had a great time!

After that we spent a little time on Devon Street (otherwise known as "Little India". I'd never been and it was really cool seeing all the Sari shops and stores that sold Hindi movies. I finally got a marble chakla. The man selling it to us was like "you roll chapatti?" hahaha! If only he knew!

Then we had to make the looooong drive back home, but a three hour car ride with Raj after a month apart is nothing to complain about! =)

Dahi (yogurt)

When I first learned you could make yogurt at home I was mind-blown. I was even more mind-blown when I realized how ridiculously easy it is! While I am still learning to like this plain yogurt (I'm so addicted to my favored Chobani yogurt!) Raj loves it!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 gallon whole milk*
• 1/4 c. plain yogurt

It's very important that you use whole fat milk for this recipe. I've never tried using anything like 2%, but from what I've heard you shouldn't.

Directions:

1. Pour milk into a heavy bottom pot. 

2. Bring milk to a boil on medium heat. Stir it every so often. Be careful not to scald the milk, or let it boil for to long! As soon as it starts boiling and a foam appears, take it off the heat. 

3. Keeping the milk in the same pot, let it cool down until it is warm. This is very important, you don't want it to be too hot when you add the yogurt. 

4. Add the 1/4 c yogurt, and just stir until it's mixed. You may have to use store bought yogurt for the first time to get this started, but once you've made your own yogurt you can just use the last bit that's left to make a new batch!

5. Now all you have to do is wait. You want to store the yogurt some place warm. When it's really cold outside, I may set my oven to "warm" or the lowest setting and turn it off once your milk starts to boil. You want to store your yogurt somewhere warm.

6. Check your yogurt after about four hours, if it is solid, place it in the fridge until cold. If it's still liquid, just place it back in it's warm place (sometimes this process can take me up to eight hours).

I should have snapped a photo before digging in!

There you have it! Yogurt! The liquid is normal, don't mind it. I'm not sure if it's alright to drain it, but Raj likes for me to leave it in. 

You can leave it plain, which goes very well with Indian food, or you can even add flavor! I bet it would be good with a blueberry compote mixed in, or fresh fruit!

Enjoy =)

Indian Weddings are Beautiful pt. 2

I've been struggling to find words to go along with this post. Raj has been sending my photos of his sisters wedding and I so wanted to use them. Again, I still know so little about the tradition behind a Sikh wedding (and Raj acts like he hardly knows either!) that I'm afraid I can't be too insightful. What I can do, however, is share some beautiful photos! If you have questions please ask and I will do my best to find you an answer!

Such a beautiful dress, and an even more beautiful bride!

Raj's mom and dad!

Who could this dashing man be?!

Off to the honeymoon!

This was an arranged marriage. One of my earlier post talked about a love marriage and an arranged marriage. My next post I'll be talking about my thoughts on an arranged marriage! I hope you enjoyed these beautiful photos!