Friday, 4 March 2016

Tribute to My 'Maa'


‘Hundreds of dewdrops to greet the dawn,
Hundreds of bees in the purple clover,
Hundreds of butterflies on the lawn,
But only one mother the wide world over.’
~George Cooper



‘Maa’, ‘Mother’, ‘Moeder’, ‘Màna’ ‘Mamma’ – the sweetest word in the world, the first word of every child. Mother gives us birth after bringing us up ten months in her womb and gives us a new world and light of life. I think, just one day in a year is not enough for her; every day should be Mother’s Day. But, sometimes, we forget to say, how much we love and respect her. So, it is quite fair, dedicating a special day for Mother to show her love and respect and pamper her in all the way possible.


‘Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible.’  ~Marion C.





In my childhood, I was so shy; I felt almost out of my comfort zone whenever I went outside. I never can forget the first day of my school life! I was so scared and puzzled. My Mom accompanied me   to my school. After reaching there, a caretaker took me over to my class room. Seeing all the new faces around; I was not only perplexed but was almost crying. In the meantime, I looked at the window and found my Mom standing by the gate of the school. Seeing her I was so happy and got back my little confidence! I was then too little to understand every emotion of mind; but I understood that day, that my Mom can protect me from any problem with her love.


‘Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs... since the payment is pure love.’  ~Mildred B. Vermont




 The years gone by & I was growing up slowly with my brothers. Ohh, I have forgotten to tell that I have two loving brothers. I remember, my Mom didn’t like us to take any private tuition. Though she was not so much educated, she had taken the responsibility of our educations happily besides so many of her daily works! Now when I happily retrospect those days; I feel how much hard-working she had been! My Mother always inspired us to read various kinds of books. I remember, we read so many children magazine and books and surely daily newspaper. In my school, college and in higher studies, I never have any problem with spelling or pronunciation and all the credit goes to my Mom! She is responsible for inculcating me with good habit of reading books and for that; I have discovered a new world of literature. In this age of internet, children are forgetting to read books. Whenever I get a chance I encourage the children of our society for reading the books, outside their school curriculum. This is how I try to repay something to my mother!



‘The sweetest sounds to mortals given / Are heard in Mother, Home, and Heaven.’
~William Goldsmith Brown



I always remember the day, when I become a woman from a girl! I felt so unsecured and scared; couldn’t decide what to do; my Mother came to me and spared her hand on my head. She explained me all the things lucidly and thereafter became my best friend! I completed my schooling in the year 2000 and then went to college. A new world started unveiling itself! (In the meantime with my growing age, I became very friendly!) My parents never forced me to choose only girls as friends as they believe in equality between boys and girls; but, when I choose some boys as my friends and they used to visit my house for some reasons or other, our neighbors became so curios! They started making gossips about me! I ignored them and thanks to my Mom; she did it too. My Mom was so broad minded. She always taught me to be a good human being then a successful woman. I always follow her steps and never need to see back!




‘God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers.’ - Jewish Proverb




During my college days, I had fallen in love! He was a friend of my elder brother. It was not a love at first sight affair but I felt something within me. We became close friends after some days and our friendship turned into love! Life had not been the same monotonous affair as it was used to be before! After few years, he has gotten a job and we decided to get married! In this period, I came to know about casteism! My fiancé is Brahmin but I’m not and that was a big issue in the society! In this twenty first century, a very large section of our society shouts for their castes! My Mom had been standing beside me always! I told you before that she is very open minded and was fighting for me till the end.




It will be a never ending process; if I continue to write about the memories of my Mom! So I want to conclude here saying something to My Mother –
Dear Mom, I don't want to thank you for what you have been doing for me since my childhood; I don't want to tell you how much I love you; I just want to say that, you are the person for whom, my childhood shall always remain the best part of my life. When anybody asks me about my childhood, I can say proudly about that and all the credits go to you mom; without you, I never can stand here, where I’m today and you are always bonded with my existence. I am really too glad to have you. I always pray to God for your long life, May I always feel your warm touch. Thank you for being my 'Maa'. See My Scrapbook Here!






Share your #MemoriesForLife like I’ve done at BlogAdda for HDFC Life.

See My Scrapbook Here!






Saturday, 5 December 2015

I Can Make Life Sweet Without Sugar




Sweet and Indian – don’t you think, are supplements to each other?! In India, there are so many varieties of sweets, and I think we are the richest in this category! It’s very rare in India that anyone says ‘NO’ to sweets! And, as I’m belonging to Bengal, I feel this craziness in Bengal too much! In my house, every day I prepare sweet ‘chatni’ for lunch! But, 3 years back, this became very dangerous for my family and I want to share the story, how I overcame!
December 2012 came with a bad news for me and my family. After a routine check-up, our house-physician said that my husband is suffering from diabetics! After 4-5 months, we came to know that my mom-in-low also is suffering from the same! They both love to eat sweets so much; in fact, they eat the most of sweets in our household! Now, Doctor strictly restricted sweets for them; even, I can’t add sugar in any dish, that I used to add before. It was really very tough time; I couldn’t understand what to do! During those days; one day I saw a TV advertisement of Sugerfree and went to shop to bring it home. There I find many kinds of Sugerfree – Tablet, Drops, Powder and I bought one of each Varity.



Sugarfree Tablets


Sugarfree Natura (powder)
Sugarfree Drops















Then I put the tablets in the office-bag of my hubby and told him to use for tea and I continue this still now. Then I have started to make sweets with the liquid and powder Sugarfree and got excellent results! My mom-in-low and hubby were very happy to eat sweets again; but, I have little confusion. So I go to doctor and asked him about the safety and side effects of artificial sweetener. But doctor wiped out all my worries! He said that ‘it is total safe and secure; you can use it without any worry’. Since then, I have been replacing sugar with Sugerfree to make deserts and also anything, which need to add sugar!


Rasgulla made with Sugarfree

Gulab Jamun made with Sugarfree














Now, I can make life more sweet without sugar and all the credits goes to SUGARFREE!


Fruit Cake made with Sugarfree

Here is a recipe of a very famous Bengali dessert ‘Chanar Payes’; which I have made with sugerfree!





Chanar Payes


Ingredients:


1. Full cream milk:                        1+1 liter


2. Lemon juice:                            1 tbsp
Or,
Calcium Lactate Powder:              1 teaspn.

 
3. Khoya (grated):                        100gm.

 
4. Sugarfree Nature:                   ½ cup
Or,
Sugarfree Liquid:                         3 drops

5. Vanilla essence:                        2-3 drops
Or,
Rose Water:                                 1/2 teasp.

 
6. Keshar:                                     1/5 teasp.

 
7. Cherry:                                     for garnishing

Method:


1. Heat 1-liter milk in a pan. Once it starts to boil, pour in the lime-juice or Calcium Lactate Powder and stir gently. The milk will curdle and clear whey will separate. Strain the paneer in a muslin cloth. Wash under cold running water to get rid of the lemony smell and then hang it for ½ an hour.


2. Get the fresh paneer out of the cloth; wrap and start kneading it with the palm, Knead to make it smooth for 5-6 minutes.

3. Make same size tiny balls from the paneer and keep aside.

4. Heat rest of milk in another heavy bottom pan. Stir in between to prevent it from burning at the bottom.

5. When the milk become ½, mix the khoya to it and stir very well. Continue stirring till it’s thick and creamy.

6. Now, reduce the flame and start adding the balls one by one.

7. Once all the balls are added, add the vanilla essence, pinch of keshar to it.

8. Let it simmer on the same heat for 3-4 minutes, stir continuously. Make sure there is enough liquid as the balls will soak up lots of liquid during the process of cooling.Now, off the flame and add the Sugerfree. Mix very well and let it become cool.

9. When it becomes cool, keep it in refrigerator for at least ½hr.

10. Take it from refrigerator; garnish with cherry and serve in small bowls.


* You can use Sugerfree more or less, as you want; I have mentioned the measurement as per my requirement.

** You may use cashew-nut, raisin and other dry fruits to garnish.




Click Here to take the Sugarfree Dessert Challenge!