I decided to try my hand at crocheting and amigurumi a few months ago. I made a penguin with instructions from The Woobles website. It was not an easy project and it took me a long of time. I learned a lot of things about crocheting, like the different types of stitches and how to count them. I also learned how hard it is and the patience necessary to start and complete a project. Regardless of all the kinks there were along the way, I’m proud of the final project. I can’t wait to make more amigurumi!
Category: Hobbies
Read Your Bookshelf
Read Your Bookshelf month is where you take a month (or 2 in my case!) and use it to only read books from your shelves. This means no library or e-books at all (at least after I finish my big pile of books to read!). I’ll be doing it through January and February.
I’m also using this opportunity to participate in the #bitaboutbooks challenge.
This is a fun challenge, in which I’m using books on my bookshelf. This is my plan so far, but it’s all subject to change!
I’ve already finished, Miss Marple, and am super excited to read the rest!
Best of 2020
2020 has been a strange year, but here are some of the things that happened.
1. Starting the year with family:
I love spending time with my grandparents. I’m glad I got to do it in the beginning of this year, even if I couldn’t make my annual summer trip to India 😭. I also got to spend some time with my uncle and aunt, before they moved countries.
2. Ending my elementary years and staring my middle school ones:
I finished 5th grade (virtually) and started middle school and the school of my choice (also virtually)! Virtual school is less than ideal, but I’ve learned to adjust. You can read about my experiences here.
3. ARCADIS Science Fair:
I participated in the ARCADIS science fair and did a project on supercooling and snapfreezing water. I learnt a lot and was really surprised when I won!
4. Mini Getaways:
Since we couldn’t travel a lot, I relied on a few small breaks to get away . My favorite one was definitely my birthday weekend getaway with a few of my friends and family. I also liked the Corpus Christi, Driftwood, and Pensacola Beach breaks.
5. Dance:
I spent a lot of time focusing on dance during these COVID times. I’ve taken place in a Bharatanatyam dance exam (for both theory and practical) and started learning a new Indian classical dance form, Mohiniattam. I performed a few solo items and recorded them. I’ve also began to learn Carnatic music to support my skills.
In Western dance, I was able to get one last performance on February in my elementary school dance company and I’m in my new school’s Drill Team. It’s less than ideal, but I’m hoping to be able to go back to performing soon.
6. Life Skills:
2020 has been a year where I learnt and tried so many new things.
- I learned to crochet, and did a few art projects including tie-dye projects and wreaths for our door.
- I cooked and baked (I even made my first layered cake!) and got comfortable in the kitchen. Some of the treats I made include mint chutney bread, cranberry cookies, brownies, and more. I also learned to make rice and keera kootu.
- I’ve learned a lot of handy household chores like doing the laundry and handwashing clothes as well as ironing and sweeping.
7. Improved Technology Skills:
I started to use Instagram and I wrote on my blog more. I got better at using Google Drive, Docs, and Slides. I’ve learnt about different features on computers and got better at navigating through the digital world.
8. Writing:
I wrote 2 stories (which I’m going to edit this year) and a few short stories for my blog.
9. Reading:
I’ve read a ton this year and made friends with a few bookstagrammers. On my instagram, I took part in two challenges, the #mgbookmarch challenge in March and the #mgbooktober challenge in October. I’ve also started new series, and began to read a higher level of mglit!
You can check out my insta here.
Merry Christmas and a recipe
Merry Christmas everyone! I decided to share a winter recipe to start off the holiday season, so here is how you make white chocolate and cranberry cookies!
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup softened butter
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ cup white chocolate chips
- 1 cup dried cranberries
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line the cookie sheets.
- In a bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar.
- Beat in the egg and vanilla.
- Combine the flour and baking soda in a different bowl, then stir into the first mixture.
- Mix in the white chocolate chips and cranberries.
- Roll into small balls and place them on the cookie sheets.
- Bake for 8 minutes in the oven. Allow cookies to cool on wire racks.
- Enjoy!
These cookies are really delicious and I loved making and eating them. I gifted these homemade cookies to our neighbors. It’s a perfect treat for the holidays. I hope you like them!
4 Reasons Why You Should Read Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Percy Jackson and the Olympians is a great series by Rick Riordan. There are ups and down, laughter and tears. It’s full of mythology, but also has an added touch which you’ll discover if you read the books. Each book leads into the next, and I can guarantee you won’t be able to put it down.
1. The Characters
I love learning about the characters ups and downs and how they have progressed through the story. It’s so fun to see how much they’ve matured and changed throughout the course of 5 books. (In which the main characters age from 12-16). I especially love the realism and how the characters seem to come to life in my head. It’s a crazy ride, starting from barely knowing someone to crying when they die.
2. The Plot
What would a good book be without a good plot? This series has funny moments and tearful moments, moments of extreme joy, and times where you hope for the best. With unexpected twists at every page, what you expect is never what’s going to happen. The plot always makes me want to go back and dive deep into the book. Rick Riordan writes in so much detail that it’s always a great read.
3. The Mythology
Rick Riordan takes Greek mythology, then twists it to come up with the most marvelous things. These books include heroes like the Greek gods and goddesses and monsters like the minotaurs or empousas. I’ve definitely learned a lot from this series. While it might not be totally accurate, I definitely know a lot more than I did 2 years ago.
4. The Other Series
There are so many other series born out of this one. Currently, the Percy Jackson universe has come to a close, with 5 series, but you never know. Maybe we’ll get another one. Everything starts falling into place as you read the other series, especially the Heroes of Olympus. It’s so amazing to keep seeing these characters growing and changing in front of my eyes, through, and I am really excited to read the other series.
I’ve had so much fun while reading this series. I really enjoy these books and I totally encourage you to check out all of them!
How to make a Quick and Easy Payasam
This Diwali, I learned how to make a simple and quick payasam. It was delicious and I really enjoyed the making of it, so I decided to share the recipe with you! By the way, this is a shortcut payasam which takes only about 15-20 minutes.
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp warm milk
- 1/4 tsp cardamom seeds
- pinch of saffron
- 1 tbsp ghee
- 3 tbsp chopped nuts (you can also add raisins)
- 1/2 cup roasted seemiya
- 2 1/2 cup warm whole milk
- 1/2 cup condensed milk
Directions
- Soak the saffron and cardamom in the 3 tbsp warm milk and set to side.
- In a non-stick pan, heat ghee, and fry nuts.
- Once the nuts are golden brown, remove and put on a plate.
- In the same pan, add the seemiya.
- Add the 2 1/2 cup whole milk to the seemiya.
- Let it cook for 7 minutes.
- Now add the condensed milk.
- Add the nuts and the saffron/cardamom/milk mixture.
- Let it simmer for 3 minutes.
- Enjoy!
My 2020 #mgbooktober posts
Last month, I participated in #mgbooktober on Instagram. #Mgbooktober is a fun book challenge which requires you to post something every day. I decided to share a few of my favorite posts on my blog as well. You can check out my other posts on Instagram and hopefully follow me!
Being The New Kid
Being the new kid is never easy, especially when it seems like everyone knows everyone. I wrote the fictional personal narrative based off of my experience as a new kid in dance class. This was a submission for my assignment in my Language Art class
I open the door to the dance room uncertainly and peep in. Kids are milling around, talking to each other happily. I gulp and step in, nervous. All the chatter comes to a stop and it feels like every eye is on me. The teacher catches my eye and nods, and I take a seat near the back of the room. I listen to the excited conversation, only catching a few words or sentences, and start wishing that I had bought a book. The teacher, Ms. Nair, clears her throat and we all stand up and start warming up. After we’ve warmed up, Ms. Nair says, “Let’s see Jimikki Kammal from Nimmy, Rithika, and Megha.” Their dance is fun and energetic. Ms. Nair smiles, then scans over the group of kids watching. “Let’s have Niharika, Lipi, and Tara join them. I know you girls don’t really know the dance, but try to follow along. ” she says. I get up nervously and join the other 5 girls standing. As I start dancing, I remind myself to loosen up and have fun. The music starts and I nervously begin dancing, watching the other girls like a hawk, trying to pick up the dance moves. As the music goes on, I start relaxing and actually start getting immersed in the dance. At the end, Ms.Nair smiles, looks us over once again and nods. She hands us a costume to practice in and my mind spins. I’m in a dance group already! A girl who danced with me, Lipi, says, “Hey, you dance really well. Do you want to be friends?” I smile and accept her invitation. I’ve already made a friend! I’m really sad when practice is over and we have to leave for our next class. I’m very excited for the next class and what we will do there.
Mav Urundai
I roll the ball between my palms, wincing a bit from the heat. As I take in my family mingling around the kitchen, I smile. I am right where I want to be, in my kitchen making mav urundai.
Mav urundai is so easy to make! I can make at least 6 delicious roasted bengal gram balls in less than 10 minutes. They taste really good and I always have to stop myself from eating more. Each urundai is small, but it fills you up perfectly. It’s a great time to be with family. Sitting around our table, we crack jokes and play games, all while having a small mav urundai snack.
I bite into the little ball and a flood of memories come rushing through my mind. Mav urundai reminds me of so many things. I take a small bite and vividly remember days with my grandparents, having fun in the sun, and so many more wonderful things. Happiness washes over me as I finish the urundai and reach for another one.
I love mav urundai. It reminds me of home and is a great and easy snack. I totally recommend making this for a light and easy treat!
Mint Girl’s Mav Urundai Recipe
Ingredients:
- half cup roasted bengal grams (porikadalai)
- .37 cup of powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons ghee
Steps:
- Finely grind the bengal grams
- Add the powdered sugar and mix well
- Melt the ghee in a saucepan.
- Turn off the heat and add the powdered mix
- Mix well and start shaping balls
- Enjoy!
Mint Girl Goes to Verandah
I went to Verandah recently and tried the chef tasting menu there. Here are some of my favorite parts about it.
1. The Flavors
The flavors were very vibrant and came through well. The spices were added perfectly to create a stunning and tasty masterpiece. This food was familiar to me but still very exotic and on a new level. Paneer and gulab jamun always remind me of home, but when I tried them in Verandah, it was like rereading my favorite book and finding a new thing in the midst of it that I wasn’t able to figure out before.
2. The Presentation
This was fine-dining at its best. The service was impeccable and the food was plated perfectly. My favorite plating was the dessert course. The way it was arranged looked marvelous and delicious. It was also my favorite course.
3. Indulgence
I really liked how they provided special mocktails with different courses. They paired perfectly and added a nice sweetness.
4. Freshness
The vegetables and greens on the plate were all home-grown, adding to the fresh taste of the dishes. They also provided a crunchiness, that made eating them all the more delicious. I especially liked the edible flowers for decoration. They looked really nice and acted as a palette cleanser. A special mention to the chocolate mint decorating the dessert.
All of these elements tied together really nicely and made my dinner at Verandah a 5 star experience. I highly recommend everyone trying the chef tasting menu at Verandah.