had lamb curry tonight!!!! it was DELISH 

my plate : )

Bread Pakode

Bread Pakode is the favorite treat of all kids and a wonderful lunch : ) 

Mix besan (chick pea flour), salt, garam masala (coriander/cumin powders), red mirchi (spice), ajwan (carom seeds) and a pinch of baking soda which adds smoothness to the batter: 

add water and mix virally w a fork: 

beautiful batter:

ready to dip the bread in the batter and FRY : P

cut the top ends of the bread off and cut remaining portions in half:

dip in batter:

put in oil (our oil should have been a little hotter so these ones took a little longer):

zucchini subjee also cooking: 

still frying:

my plate w ketchup and mint chutney : )

so many crunchies:

dessert - a mango:

Makki Roti

This is a delicious roti made out of corn flour. Typically you eat it with saag (spinach).

get corn flour from Indian store. the one from the American store is too thick:

you have to boil water. add the hot boiling water to the flour.  use a fork and your hands to mix the dough but you don't have to knead it. the dough should be clumpy. then leave the dough for ten minutes. 

ready to roll:

this is a mix of mostly corn flour and wheat flour:

dip the clump in the flour and roll out:

then put on hot thawa pan to cook:

flip:

flip again and put some oil on top:

flip again and put some oil on top:

massive pot of saag:

kaale chunne:

yogurt w boondi, salt, red mirchi, roasted jeera and mint:

my plate. you can add a dollop of butter in your saag if you'd like : ) since I'm old now, I can no longer do that:

seconds please:

 

Kaddu Subjee

this is a butternut squash subjee. I think my mom microwaved the squash to soften it since it's so hard to cut. sorry not sure what she did and she's off and on the phone. before you add the squash to the oil, put 15 seeds of methre (fenugreek seeds) in the oil and cook for a couple minutes: 

then add squash:

add 1/3 spoon turmeric, 1/3 spoon salt, 1/4 spoon red mirchi and 3/4 spoon garam masala:

DO NOT stir with a karchi or big spoon. you have to toss the squash to mix the masalas in there. tossing in action:

let cook for some time: 

mutilated squash:

I cannot believe sunflower seed butter is $7.99!!!!!! at the local Gluten-free zone when it's $4.99 at Trader Joe's!!!!!! That is three whole dollars. > : [

pumpkin subjee, karele (bittergourd) and mooli w turnip greens tonight. 

yummy:

Kheer Poode (my sister's favorite besides paneer lol)

batter for the pooka (pancake): 1: 1/2 ratio of medha (flour) to sooji (1 cup medha and 1/2 cup sooji). 2 tbsp (or 1 karchi) sugar, 1/2 pint whipping cream and a little water. needs to be a crepe like consistency:

need butter in the pan:

pour batter in pan, may take a while to cook especially the first one: 

Kheer Mmmmmmmm:

beautiful pooda. this is half of the pooda because you have to share the first one. someone got the other half : )

warm, crispy goodness ~

kaaaaallleeee chunneeeeeee!!!!!!! I'm so happy we're having kaale chunne for dinner and not pizza : ) 

had amazing Uttapam over the weekend. you just need equal parts sooji and yogurt and just a few tablespoons water. then make a mix of onion, tomato, coriander, salt and pepper and top batter with mix while cooking. it is DELISH:

The good news is I get my Rite aid prescription for free under my new insurance. It's only $16 but a help for someone like me. 

Today I went to Walmart to get the oil changed in my old car (I want to cry). I did my grocery shopping and then went to pay for the oil change but the credit card machine wasn't working even though it was working when I paid for groceries. I tried three different cards, wasting ten minutes and was getting so damn pissed off especially when the manager person asked for my ID. what the hell!!! I literally tossed my credit cards at them and said 'please just figure this out I have to go' like a pissed off gynecologist who works at UPMC. They finally just gave me my oil change for free. 'cash tendered.' #I only had one cup of coffee today ; (

Rongee (Black eye peas)

This is black eye peas. Just follow directions for aloo matar..you're basically replacing aloo w a can of black eye peas and not adding peas : ) 

experimented with turkey curry the other day..it was so so:

I got one class transferred!!!!!!

I still owe the Dept. of Labor less than a tall cup of Starbucks coffee..lord..

What I've learned is you have to be really discriminating when choosing an online program. I'm impressed with the online format so far at Capella. It seems evolved, clear and informative. There is an online library, other resources provided for us and the professor will not be mailing us CDs with flies on them that don't work. I've been guided by the enrollment counselor through everything and in the beginning she was calling me like every day. I don't know why I feel like the luckiest person in the world when all the information is clear, thorough and present from the start.

Unfortunately I've been taking too much Advil over the past few months. Too many headaches and body aches in general so I finally told my acupuncturist yesterday who gave me one of those treatments where you are so tired later. She also gave me some pain herbs. I now have to take Maca-3 from pure encapsulations and Wobenzym PS manufactured by MUCOS Pharma. Maca works!! I would gladly like to get addicted to this stuff. One pill of Maca plus 6 of Wobenzym daily.

stay warm..

Update

I haven't talked about my school situation in a while because I have been working hard to transfer to another University and the journey has been filled with frustration. I was suffering while enrolled in Cal U's MA Teaching program. I could no longer attend a 'university,' which did not have my interest in mind. I took 21 credits at Cal U and probably should have transferred earlier but very unfortunately, those credits could not be transferred into another University Education program at the Master's level, at least at a University that is affordable for me. I spent $470 per credit at Cal u (plus $1300 in fees f#**$#&&$) so I wanted something a little cheaper.  

After talking to lots of universities and having ridiculous problems in getting my transcripts sent everywhere, I decided to switch to a Master's in Education program. I no longer want the Master of Arts teaching certification. I am more interested in developing competent curriculum. So I finally settled on another online program at ........Capella University. Woohoo! They charge $444 per credit and there are no fees!!!!

I entered their Master of Science in Education program with an emphasis on Curriculum and Instruction. The entire program is 46 credits (11 courses). I felt awful about having spent all that money on 21 credits already and none of it being able to transfer, however at Capella, they are currently offering a $3000 scholarship for this particular program. Additionally, they provide the option of doing self-paced professional development courses online which can replace three courses, reducing the cost of the program by $3,500. So at least I am getting $6500 back in a way.

#resolution
#harrowing experience
#there is somewhat of a light at the end of this tunnel

update: as of 2/17 - I was able to transfer 9 credits from Cal U the Incompetent to Capella.