Recapitulation of the last 3 years

After almost 3 years break, I’m back blogging again. Lots of bitter & sweet experiences that I just had to take some break from the blogging world. And now im back again with a defined reason.. I shall rant about my life, children (Yes, children… shall come back to that in minute), travels and food ..for the sake of my kids and their generation on how the Preshothman’s lived down under !! Might jot down some recipes for Esha to try when she is all grown up n has her own family. 

Ok, so what has happened the last 3 years…

Had a preterm delivery at 23 weeks on 1^st Jan 2013, a beautiful baby boy came into the world for good 5 mins and passed on.. we named him Keshan and cremated him the next day.. this was the most dreadful thing ever happened to me in my entire life.. and till todate, I still believe he is up there watching and guarding us … You will always be my 2^nd baby Keshan…love you always..

Then we moved to Pakenham to have a new start and that’s when I started my new hobby, Gardening… Esha turned 2 years old.. Presh & I was bz tending to our lil madam …bringing  her for picnics, zoo, fruit picking, walks n drives just to keep her happy and occupied…Towards x’mas, I found out that I’m pregnant…and with god’s grace, I was carrying fraternal twins.. was in cloud 9, being very careful this time, I was referred to Monash Hosp as a high risk patient.. at 14 weeks, got to know that my cervix was shortening, did a preventive cerclage (minor surgery) and stayed in bed till I was 24 weeks… strict bed rest with my parents help..

Delivered to baby boys on the 9^th July at 37 weeks via c section.. yeah full term baby !!! they were weighing at 2.6kg n 2.37kg each and was 1 min apart..  after almost a week, we finally decided on their name, Nirresh and Narresh with the same Initial (based on their astrology & numerology). The name has the same meaning but only the pronunciation is different.. It means King of Kings..

And now both the boys are almost 9 months old and big sister Esha is turning 4 in a few months time…how time flies…

Garden Update..

Flowers everywhere

I just love spring too much coz of the sun and also flowers everywhere....colourful and vibrant....they just make me happy...!!

Below pics are from my own garden... :-D

Mesembryanthemum Mauve 

Scarlet Rose 

Dark Pink Snapdragon 

Osteospermum Serenity (Daisy Family)

Marigold Boy O'Boy

Blessed Kartigai all.....

Hie folks…Happy Kartigai Deepam to all those celebrating….nuthin much of a celebration here besides usual Pournami prayers in the morning and lighting up the oil lamps inside the hse (couldn’t light them outside the hse due to strong wind)…

 

After morning prayers, headed straight to vege garden to harvest English Spinach (Popeye variety)…. Cooked Spinach curry for lunch today together with Vege Ikan Bilis sambal , cabbage stir fry and papadums…

 

 

 

 

 

Below is the recipe (it is Presh’s Grandmom’s recipe handed down to my mom in law… This recipe was the 1^st recipe I wrote down from my mom in law before migrating to Oz).

 

1 bunch Spinach

2 handful Mung Bean (Pasiperu)

2 medium Tomato

4-5 Green Chillies

1 Tsp Tumeric Powder

2 tbsp Ginger-garlic paste

 2 medium Onions

3 dried Chillies

1 tsp Mustard Seeds

A sprig Curry Leaves

2 Tbsp Ghee

 

Method:

1.       Boil the mung beans with water. As it boils, add 1 tsp of oil, turmeric powder, Ginger-garlic paste, Green chillies and tomatoes.

2.       Once the beans turns mushy, add in the chopped spinach.

3.       Turn off the stove after 5 minutes and let it cool. Then blend it coarsely.

4.       Heat oil / ghee in a wok, add in the onions, dried chillies, mustard seeds and curry leaves.

5.       Finally add them into the blended Spinach and serve.

 

 

My new found passion

It is spring now and finally it getting sunnier….. My new found passion or love…??  GARDENING !!!!

Started gardening end of winter and **touchwood….it going on well….Planted 2 type of cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprout, varieties of tomato, spinach, silverbeat, bok choy, celery, mint, capsicums, zucchini, cucumber, potatoes, Vietnamese mint, eggplant, basil, watermelon and rockmelon….

 
Just started harvesting tomato and spinach so far….and it is still spring….hoping for a better harvest towards summer and early autumn……


Discarded the big oversize leaves and only picked the small to medium leaves….and yet I managed to get a bowl full of spinach. It’s just nice for the two of us and of course not forgetting our lil girl…

Dish up a quick Spinach Stir-fry (Poriyal). Heat Oil, add in mustard seeds, chopped onions and ginger-garlic paste, then add the chopped spinach leaves and finally add in lil grated coconut. In my case, I just add in the desiccated coconut. Salt to taste.


 

 

 

 
And it went well with Sambhar and Tofu Sambal....Simple vegetarian dish....;)

Fried Carrot Cake for the 1st time...

Tried cooking Fried Carrot Cake for the 1st time and it turned out quite well...Not too bad for a first timer..

P/s : Meenu , this is for you..

 Shredded Radish (I used 1 large radish)

 Cooked the shredded radish with very little water till the radish turned transparent. once cooked, turn of the stove and let it cool. Meanwhile, combine 1 cup of water with 250g of Rice flour and salt. Add the cooked radish to this rice flour mixture and steam it for 35-45 minutes.

Steamed radish cake. Leave it overnight in the fridge till it firms up.

Pan fried the cubed carrot cake( small portion - just nice for 1 person) with very little oil and set aside. Heat oil again, add minced garlic and preserved turnip(chopped). Then after 1-2 mins, add in the carrot cake, fish sauce (1 tsp) and drizzle dark sweet soy sauce as required and stir fry till well coated. Then add in 1 egg(beaten). Stir well, garnish with Spring onions and dish out.

Esha with her fav Aunty !!