Day 2 and 3; freezer foods and cooking in 7 mins :)

Now I know I'm writing in retrospect, but this is the thing when you have little ones. They are so demanding and constantly watching and learning.. And in Shyaamas case wanting to "help".  When I say help what I mean is "take over"! She literally wants to do everything. From washing the rice to adding all the ingredients, she says "mummy stand back don't be scared- I'll do it.."

The other thing is the babes eat on average every 3 hours. So in between doing applications for a new job, and packing for our forthcoming trip to India for my sisters wedding. There's no time to plan menus and read recipes or do anything fabulous.  But I do have a timetable of sorts that helps me decide what to make. 

What we ate...

Day 2

Having started Jyoti quite recently on solids I've started making the same for both children... Only I grind Jyotis ever so slightly. 

So lunch was...

Baby pasta with "Yellow giant" for Shyaama and Jyoti. 

For this we use the smallest pasta shape that you can find at our favourite Turkish shop. 

7min Pasta

300g pasta
5 fresh baby plum tomatoes
Pinch of turmeric 
Knob of butter (salty flavour)
Half tin tomatoes
Pinch of herbs I used oregano (of your choice)

Whilst the pastas cooking in one pan. Heat a second pan until it's warm. Add all the ingredients and cook to boiling and close. Letting it cool will thicken the sauce. 

Simples...  

For mine I add a dash of Encona or similar...

In the evening it was one of those lucky days that The Hub was home so with his help we put together one of our quick fix dishes.  Our quick evening solution is a huge salad literally with every raw vegetable in the house and Pitta bread. 

The best Pitta we have found can be ready bought at Taboon-Golders Green. But if you can't get there a local Turkish shop should have some fresh. 

For our evening Meze
1 tub Piri Piri Houmas
1 tub plan Houmas 
1 packet of Haloumi
Tub of salad 

We can of course with planning make our Houmas and pitta at home... And I promise to put some recipes up on how I make them. 

Shyaama ate what we had and then asked for her dessert... Which wad carrot lol. Believe it.. My child loves her salads, fruits and veg and is convinced that this is dessert (don't get me wrong she loves her cakes and Ice creams)  But, it is rather cute when she's sat demanding a carrot...
 
Day 3

The Hub (my one and only true love and food admirer extrodinaire made the most delicious Cathedral City on toast for breakfast.  ( trust me; it makes a difference!) :)) 

Cheating day 1 New Years Day. Visit the family :) you won't regret it.

So on New years day after an adventurous New Years Eve we went bowling with the familia... The children loved it. Come 5 o clock we were starving... The  "Daves" who are fellow foodies highly recommended a new restaurant - "Resham" previously called "Lazeez" in North Finchley. 

And what a fantastic menu... I wanted everything on that menu. All you paneer lovers would seriously drool. Every single vegetarian dish had some kind of paneer marriage. Now though I love paneer I've given it up for a good cause (6 disgustingly long months without it :) but I have lost a stone in weight :)) so drooled enviously at the menu. 

On our extensive order;

Starters 

Soneri Okra- golden fried okra in a tempura style batter. 

Masala Mogo/Masala Chips- both I'd say were average and nothing to write home about.
 
Stuffed Pepper-this was lovely, creamy spicy. Infused with cashews and dreamy flavours. 

Mains
Veg kolapuri- average. 

Lasanya Paneer- This dish went down a storm with the boys... "amazing" in the words of my brother MD. 
 
Paneer in Garlic Sauce- nobody seemed to like this. 

Veg koftas - This was my favourite but didn't look like traditional koftas. Looked disconcerting but I was glad I tried it. 

Hyderbadi rice- was supposed to be a spinach and mixed vegetable thing. But I'd say average. 

Saffron rice
Daal makhani- hmmmm drool. Now I love my lentils and this was good. 

A mix of garlic and chilli nans breads which were still warm when they arrived. 

For a new restaurant I'd probably give it 5/10. (completely my opinion-try it out and see). 

That was my dinner... And I was hungry enough to eat a vegetarian horse! The thing is though; I do like eating out, or, ordering in. But I always find food more enjoyable when you can smell it cooking. And see the magic happen. And I got to say that the kids food was really, really good. Masi Dave had it on the hob as soon as we got in. Non spicy khichdi with ginger, potato & tomato curry and hot of the stove fully puffed rotli. I can honestly say I'd have swapped with the little un's any day...

And to top it off... No dishes for me and a hubby bag :)

Mums can cheat :) my foody affair...

So it's 2012 and I've just turned 30; and a mum to two amazing little ladies. Shyaama who is 2 and a half. And Jyoti who is 10 months old. I thought it would be really good to see what working vegetarian mums do when they have a busy social schedule. My priority is making my meals healthy and wholesome. But quick. And so here I am... My first blog. My aim to introduce you to my vegetarian year :) 365 vegetarian days.