My Surprise Baby Shower

12th Sept 2009:- This was the day I got a surprise baby shower celebration from my dear friends...organized by a very dear friend Gayathri.
So this is how it all started. A week before that is on the 7th Sept G asked me to attend a baby shower for one of her friends, I readily agreed to it, she also mentioned that it was a traditional party and so I had to wear something ethical, well nothing did fit me really now but I had a blue saree got from India and not worn till now, i thought I could make some use of it.
So on 12th morning I got up and made the blouse loose and then got ready by 7 pm to go to G's place, the plan was that G would drive to her friends place. By 7:30 I reached G's place and we sat chatting, actually she was stalling for time since here i.e at our apt complex hubby and frnds had to get the party hall arranged and also wait for all the guests to come.
All this time she kept telling me how her frnd was going to dress and all other details, playing the part to perfection I would say.
At 8:30 pm finally she made some xcuse about getting the car from our apt complex and so we had to drive back there and then we went to the party hall, while we were in the lift I sort of got an idea of what was happening :)

As we entered the hall I saw the decorations and also all my friends standing with smiles on their faces. Was definitely surprised and thrilled.
Attendes were Aadya,Ajira,Soniya,Vikash,Thomas,Soumya,Johan,Jai,Jiya,Mili,Vid&Kamlesh,Mohit&Shrada,
Gay3&Nats,Usha,Tony,Darshan,Rakesh
and of course my hubby.
Well after the inital surprsie subsided then I cut the nice blue cake. Once that was done attention was moved to games. The first game was 'Guess the Gerber'. We were blindfolded and had to taste 3 gerber brands and guess the fruit/vegetable. I failed miserable, couldnt guess a single one. It was only the 2 mommies who got all the 3 correct, full marks to them.
Next was gues sthe tummy where in each person was given a string and had to cut it guessing my tummy size. Darshan was the closest.
By this time Usha had to leave and everyone were hungry so food was attacked with full force. It was a yummy potluck dinner with idli dhokla, pasta,lemon rice, rice, chole, bhoondi and delicious kheer.
Time for the 3rd gmae in which each person was given a chit and had to write something about themselves, then all chits were collected and each was read out and remaining had to guess the person who it related to. Everyone knew each other very well it looked like.
Finally was the Dirty diaper game. Hot choclolates were melted in 3 diapers and passed around and we had to guess the chocolates used. Well again not an easy one. Tony cheated on the game with Natu's help and thus emerged the winner. All in all it was fun and exciting and everyone had a great time. It was 11:30 and time for present xchange and photo session. Finally after cleaning up we went home for a good night's sleep after a great evening.
once again thanks to Gayathri for organizing the party and the wonderful games.

Ona Sadya '09

Vibhavangal:-

Rice

Sambhar (Kerala Style)

Parippu

Puli Inji

Pachadi

Raw Banana Kootu

Kadla Curry

Cabbage Thoran

Papadam

Pickle

Banana

Chips

Parippu Payasam

Sambhar(Kerala Style):-

Ingredients:-

To Boil

Tur Dal

Turmeric

Big Onions Sliced

Tomatoes

Potatoes

For Ground Masala:-

Cocounut powder

Small Onions

Red chilly

Coriander Powder

For tadka:-

Small Onions

Mustard

Red Chilly

Kadipata

In cooker take Tur dal + Turmeric + Big Onions Sliced+Tomatoes+Potatoes+Kayam Podi+Salt and boil for 3 whistles

In another kadai fry cocounut powder + small onions, once coconut turn a little brown add red chilly + corainder powder and blend in mixie. Keep this aside.

If adding more veggies like lady's finger, carrot etc boil them seperately. In a vessel take the boiled dal mix + boiled veggies, add the ground masala and tamrind paste.

Adjust spices accordingly. For tadka fry small onions + kadipata+ mustard+ red chilly.

Sambhar is ready.

Parippu:-

Boil moong dal with lots of water for 4 whistles + Salt

In Mixie blend Coconut powder + eera + Small Onions.

Once dal is boiled off the gas, add this mixture and mix well.

Give tadka of mustard, kadipata,red chilly

Puli Inji:-

Cut ginger in small pieces and fry in ghee till it turns reddish brown.

Prepare jaggery water and tamrind water seperately.

Add this to the hot ginger mixture and keep stirring till the required consistency is acquired and the water is reduced in half and thickens.

Off the gas at this point as it will thicken more at room temperature.

Pachadi:-

Cut the velarika into small pieces. Add a little green chilly finely chopped and curry leaves and boil these. Add a little water and stir it continuously so that it does not stick to the bottom of the vessel. Let this cool, to this cool mixture add curd and mix well.

To this add a tadka of mustard, small onion, whole red chilly

Parippu Payasam:-

Boil moong dal with coconut milk and jagger water for 4 whistles. Once cooled add remaining coconut milk by keeping in open vessel. Add more sweet according to taste if required. At this point also add elaichi powder.

In a seperate vessel heat ghee and fry cashew and raisins and add to this.

Wisconsin Dells Trip _ Aug 28th 2009

Aug 28th 2009 - Friday: The entire TCS group decided to go to Wisconsin Dells for the week-end. Arrangements were made for booking the cottage and renting the car. On fri Gopi picked me up at 3:30 from office, went home and did packing and at 5:30 pm junta left from Broadmoor(Kamlesh+Vidula, Tony,Rakesh,Darshan,Venky,myself and Gopi) to Parkway.
There we picked Thomas,Soumya,Johan,Mohit,Shrada and Prashant.
We had booked a 15 seater vehicle, all girls with little Johan sat in the back seat, the other guys rotated among the other 2 seats, Kamlesh and Gopi interchanged in the driver seat and I was given the navigator seat. We left at 6pm from Eden Prairie with an estimate to reach at 11:30 pm.
On the way we stopped for dinner at Pizza hut. We reached the cottage at 11:30. The cottage was beautiful having all the latest amenities, we also had our own jacuzzi :), sleeping rooms were booked by all and then we started the game of cards which went on till 2:30 am.
Even though the game was not over we went to sleep as the next day we had to get up early.

29th Aug'09 ; Gopi and me were the first ones to wake up at 7:30 am, got ready and went upstairs to wake the others, also had to help in break-fast preparation, poha and tea, after all got ready we left at 10:00 am. First stop was at Delton WaterSports to inquire about Parasailing, but as the weather was bad they did not have Parasailing that day and asked us to come the next day. From there we went to White- House (Top secret), well it wa not much of a secret except that all things were upside down. After a lot of photo sessions there we went to Go-Karting and Bungee Jumping area.
Go karting - Darshan, rakesh,Mohit,Thomas
Bungee Jumping- kamlesh,Gopi,Darshan, rakesh
Guys who did Bungee Jumping said they had a thrill while we waited in the cold taking their video :)
From there we went to the roller Coaster ride where Mohit- Shrada,Kamlesh and Vidula and Venky went for the rides.
By this time it was 1:30 and hunger pangs lead us to Denny's.
After a huge lunch we went to Dells Boats to do the jet Boats but their 3:00 one laready started and next one was at 4:30, hence it was cancelled as there was the Tommy Barlett Aquatic Show to be watched at 4:30 pm, so from there we took the tickets for the show and left the rest of the gang at ripley's Believe it or Not @Downtown, myself, Soumya, Johan and Tony went back to the cottage to rest. After a 2 hr sleep at 6:30 pm when I woke up evening tea was ready and the whole gang returned.
Some guys did corn grilling while ladies started dinner preparations. Menu was chole- batura and rice. By 9 pm all had thier dinner and again started a round of cards, this time by 11:30 everyone went to bed as next day we had to vacate by 10:00 am.

30th Aug'Sunday: Gopi and I were the last to wake up at 7:30 , everyone else got up at 6, I guess, could hear their voices, after gettign ready went upstairs and made and omlette for breakfast with toasted bread. At 8:30 - D,R,G,K and myself went to the nearby river for kayaking. That was a fun experience. By 10:00 am we vacated the cottage and left to do the remaining adventures.
One gang went for parasailing, while the others went for jet Ski, while we were left as audience.
Finally by 12:00 pm all were back and we left from WI back to MN. On the way the usual game of mafia was played and by 5 pm was back at home -resting :)