And we begin...

I can not believe myself that this process has already begun!

I used to believe that kids will play and be naughty for a long time before they trot off to school.

I thought parents creating a bee-line for school admission forms and checking out schools when the kid is just born was way too much, but here I see myself doing this before she is even 1.5 years. Maybe I am just getting too worried with all the school thoughts, but there are already some schools which might be difficult to get into because of age issues. I just did not imagine this happening!

Now, as I run helter skelter visiting schools and pre-schools, I have so many thoughts in my head.

Montessori or Kindergarten?
Small school or Big School?
Close by or a little far?

How do I actually make a choice about these things if I have no idea about all these things in the first place. I did not go to a montessori and I do not know if that is truly a good way to teach kids... I have heard such rave reviews of the method, but then I have just words to take for it. Would we have turned out better if we were in a montessori?  Added to that the fact that montessori schools do not admit children before 2.5years and there is no concept of a pre-school for them. I, for one, feel that if children interact with other kids and learn some things, it would be good. Maybe they will learn something, else they will just play, socialize and come back. As I see Tee, I see that she is bored with the no interaction with kids and being at home with a help means the 'stupid box' is turned on for a considerable period of time. B & I do not usually watch much T.V and hence Tee is also not too keen on it, but when the T.V is turned on with all the soaps playing, she is drawn to it and stands there watching whatever comes on it. This is something I want to avoid at all costs.

At times I also feel that maybe I am just looking at options to keep her occupied, and not really go about putting her in a school... a part of me says she is just 16mo where does she need to go to any school now!

Image Source: http://techinspecialed.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Preschool1.jpg

Italian herb mini loaves

Zesty flavours was a new blog which I happened to come across when I was looking for a quick bread to make alongside my pasta. I had just about 2 hours on my hand and I was also not in the mood for too much of kneading and proofing.

I did some changes to a recipe which I came across there and these mini loaves came out perfect. Soft, fluffy, and with a bang of flavours. These are those small everyday dinner breads you would want when not in a mood for some serious baking. It does not take too long, nor effort. But, the end result speaks far from it!

Ingredients ( Yields about 5-6 mini loaves)

Active Dry Yeast - 1/2 tbsp
Luke warm water - 1/2 cup
Sugar - 1 tbsp
Olive Oil - 1/4 cup
All purpose flour - 1 1/2 cup
Salt - 1 tsp
Garlic powder - 1 tsp
Dried Oregano - 1/2 tsp
Dried Parsley - 1/2 tsp
Dried Rosemary - 1/4 tsp
Italian Seasoning - 1 tsp

Procedure

1. Dissolve 1/2 tbsp sugar in lukewarm water, follow it by mixing in the yeast. Let the yeast get activated, which should take approximately 7 - 10 minutes.

2. In a bowl pour the olive oil and 1/2 tbsp sugar. Beat well, by hand or using an electric mixer. Now add 1 cup flour, salt and the flavouring ingredients, change over to a dough hook or knead by hand. Once the dough starts to form, add the remaining 1/2 cup flour slowly so that the dough becomes simpler to handle and starts leaving the sides of the bowl.

3. Continue to knead for about 10 minuted by hand or else about 6-7 minutes on the hook. Grease a dough lightly and let to rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled, covered with a towel. In case the ambient temperature is a little on the lower side, place the bowl over a vessel with warm water and place a towel covering the entire setup.

4. Punch down and divide the dough into 6 equal parts. Roll out the dough into a rectangle, brush with olive oil and shape into a mini loaf. Now place this in a baking pan. Let the loaves rise for another 30 mins.

5. Preheat the oven to 200 C. After 30 minutes, lightly brush with some olive oil and bake for 15 - 18 minutes. The done loaves should sound hollow when tapped.

These can be served with some plain salted butter or some garlic butter too. 

Very first mother daughter shopping trip

Yesterday, I was on a shopping trip with Tee. We had no particular agenda for shopping, it was pretty much anything which caught our eyes. I had decided that I will not be carrying her about as usual, but rather let her walk about, while I look about and check out some stuff to try.

Tee was thrilled with her freedom to walk about, and since I was in the clothing section, there was nothing breakable which I had to worry about. She walked about looking at the different tags, pushing about the clothes on their hangers and trying to pull the tags of clothes which I was carrying to be tried on.

She did love the trial rooms with their mirrors all round, and I am pretty sure everyone there would have heard her Baby... Baby chant all through looking at herself in the mirror.

Shopping for herself is something she doesn't seem to enjoy. I needed to pick up 2 footwear for her and she hated those 15 - 20 mins the most of the entire shopping experience. Another thing which she loves is the shopping cart ride... and obviously pulling out things from the various accessible points. But she still enjoys the ride the most, and is really happy to sit in it unless she is hungry.

Overall, the experience was nice... I learnt that I need to let her walk about on her own to ensure that she is happy and so that I can shop. I need to keep a lookout for her as she wanders about, and while I shop too. I see this to be start of many such trips, mostly because I need to get out and shop, and its a new place for her.

Image Source: http://www.knickledger.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/mother-daughter-shopping.jpg

Attempts

Chocolate Cinnamon Rolls

Chocolate Swirl Cake aka Marble Cake

Chocolate Swirl Cake aka Marble Cake