Granny Square Crocheted Shoulder Bag

As all the bags i have made are given away as gift, thought to gift myself with a nice bag which can hold my purse and my mobile.

Crocheted this bag using granny square.

Chana Pindi (Chickpeas - Rawalpindi style)

Chana prepared in the simplest way without much of labour & don't use any bhuna masala, tomato, coriander leaves.

Ingredients :-

1. Chickpea - 1 Cup
2. Cardamom - 1 No.
3. Clove - 2 Nos
4. Cinnamon - 1/2" stick
5. Water - 2 Cups
6. Green Chillies - 2 nos (or as you prefer) - chop finely
7. Ginger - 1" piece  (chop finely)
8. Pomegranate seeds powder - 1tbsp (anardhana powder)
9. Cumin powder - 1/2 tsp
10. Coriander powder - 1.5 tsp
11. Pepper Powder - 1 tsp
12. Garam Masala powder - 1 tsp
13. Amchur powder - 1 tsp (dry mango powder)
14. Ghee - 2 tbsp
15. Onion - 1 No. (finely chopped)
16. Salt to taste

Note : 

1. If you don't get anardhana powder then you can grind some fresh pomegranate seeds & use in the recipe. You can also prepare without pomegranate seeds but adding them will add to the taste of the pindi chana.

Procedure :-

• Soak chickpeas overnight. [or for 7 hours. If you forgot then don't worry, fill in a flask with hot water, put the chick peas in it and leave it for 3 hours]

• In a pressure cooker, put the chickpeas with 2 cups water, salt, cinnamon stick, Cloves and cardamom. When pressure builds up, simmer the flame & cook for 15 minutes (in hawkins cooker). Otherwise pressure cook till 3 whistles.
• If you use dry pomegranate seed

• Let the cooker cool down and strain the water, preserve it for later use.

• To the cooked chickpeas (chana) add Cumin powder, Coriander powder, Pomegranate seed powder (or freshly ground ones), Pepper powder, Garam masala and Dried mango powder (amchur), mix well.
• In a small wok heat the ghee & add it to the chana mixture, cook it for 1 minute by stirring continously

• Add the saved water in which chana is boiled

• Adjust the salt if required

• Bring to boil till it becomes semi solid consistency and ghee separates  (say 10 minutes) - stir occasionally.

• switch off the flame. Add the chopped onions (raw), mix well and serve hot with rice or rotis.

If freshly ground masalas are used, they add to the flavour of the dish. So I roast and crush them nicely in my mortar & pestle.

Jewellery Chest - Popsicle / ice stick craft

Got boosted by the reward yesterday. So sat up and made this beautiful jewellery chest to treat myself.... :-)

Easy fun project for kids.

 

This is how I made it

Materials :

1.  Popsicle sticks
2. Fevicol
3. Velvette cloth
4. Embellishments using pearls, chamkis etc
5. Glass colours
6. Gold glitter glue
7. Zari border

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Step :1 :  For the base, arrange sticks like this :- (make - 2) one for base and other for lid

Step 2 : Place one stick on top and one at the bottom as shown in the pic (do this for both pieces)

One piece keep for lid (that is over. only decoration need to be done)

The other piece use for base & proceed as shown in the following pictures.

similarly arrange sticks two vertical over lapping the end place two horizontal - alternatively by applying glue on the ends till you get the desired height.

Once the box is ready, decorate it with the decoration materials.

 

 

Chest is ready to hold your treasures :-)

Awesome Blogger Award from Usha Srikumar

Received a sweet surpirse to day. Another boost to keep me hooked here! 

"Awesome Blogger" award from Usha Srikumar of "Usha Srikumar's Musings"

Thank you Ushaben :D

Sharing some of my favourites

1. Favourite City : Pune
2. Favourite Food : I am foodie so difficult to point out one dish
3. Favourite Humorist : Innocent
4. Favourite Season : Monsoon - which turns everything green & full of life
5. Favourite Flower : Love them all
6. Favourite Colour : All cool colours 
7. Favourite quote : Love n respect should be earned.

Now comes the joy of sharing. With a passing this award to my blogpals.

1. Sonia of Cards, Crafts and Kids Projects - who has already got many laurels and this is another feather in her cap. Most deserving blog. The beauty &  finish of her projects are so charming adding to crystal clear tutorials.
2. Sudha of Sudha Out of the Box - a multi talented crafter. Her blog speaks more than my words.
3. Anitha of "Working Mom's Endeavor to domestic success"   my new creative blogpal.
4. Riya of Colourful Butterfly - she is a colourful butterfly letting her magical fingers run all through her house which reflects in her blog. A young blood among my blogpals.
5. Aruljothi Karikalan of Creative Hall - a versatile blogger on various interests, enthusiastic crochetter, who does things with a neat finish

Congratulations Sonia, Sudha, Anitha, Riya, Jothi, wish you many more laurels & best wishes and more beaming sweet moments in your life.

Happy Blogging to all !  :-)