Category Archives: Musing

2018 Secondary 3 Week 43 Update

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School’s out officially for the year and both have been promoted to Secondary 4. Since next year is their O level year, they have to go back to school for one more week where their teachers will start the Sec 4 syllabus and complete any sec 3 portion that was undone.

We also got the results this week and BB has done atrociously. I am very appalled with his marks and he got a real talking to from both me and his form teachers. I fact, because his school does not have a formal parent teacher meeting for the end of the year, I emailed all of his teachers for either a face-to-face meeting or a phone call to see what I can do to work with him over the holidays. During the face-to-face meetings, I also requested he be pulled out of class to meet with the teachers so he knows what we discussed. BB has promised to do better in sec 4, so let’s see.

GG on the other hand, did better, though not with stellar results. But she is the more dedicated and diligent child, so I am not that as concerned about her as I am about BB.

Happy Sunday folks

Poem: Shopping

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five people standing against wall

Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

Who amongst us does not love the thrill that only comes from finding the perfect pair of shoes, that dress or even a bag! And if you managed to find it on sale, the thrill is doubled or even tripled.

grocery cart with item

Photo by Oleg Magni on Pexels.com

The Rush that is Shopping

You enter the mall with anticipation
Fingering your cards, feeling just a bit maudlin

You have big plans for the day, waiting to jump into the fray
You walk around, checking out shops, sizing up your prey

Then when you have found the perfect dress you were looking for,
That’s when you rush towards it, find your heart starting to soar

Eyes sharp as an eagle, ears keen as a owl
Like a predator on the prowl

When the dress is in your hands, you breathe a sigh of relief
Then its the delicious excitement of making sure it fits and does not give you grief

Then you pay for it and take it home
Now you wait to twirl in it, maybe do a roam?

That’s the fun of shopping, it gives you that burst of adrenaline
The rush that comes from it, makes you shine

 

2018 Secondary 3 Week 39 Update

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We’re counting down to the end of this school year and it’s exam season for BB & GG.

They are super busy these days because the year-end exams are ongoing. BB’s school exam timetable is fairly straightforward with continuous exams daily this whole week. GG’s school on the other hand, has exams for two days and then three days of normal school curriculum and then exams again. This means her exams end three days after BB’s.

Once exams are over, they go back to school for some weeks for CCA and some learning activities. School ends on the last Friday of October. And then it’s the start of the countdown to their O levels. Both BB & GG have to go back to school for a week or so after the holidays start for an O level head start. This will probably mean they get holiday homework to work on.

Have a blessed Sunday.

2018 Secondary 3 Week 37 Update

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Today GG & BB turn 15! Happy birthday to my babies! I can’t believe that those children who barely fit in the crook of my arm 15 years back now tower over me.

Yesterday was their Hindi year-end exams and while BB was blase as usual, GG was very stressed. I had to text her between her exams to take a deep breath and write the next exam with a more calm and collected mind. When she is stressed, she tends to second-guess herself and as we know when you do that, you are bound to make more mistakes. That’s exactly what happened to her during her PSLE and we all know what happened then. I am now slightly panicking about her O level exams next year. Hope I can research more on how to help her.

Later today, some of their friends are coming over. Since this will probably be the last birthday they can celebrate on the actual day during their schooling years (Next year this time, they will be in intensive prep for the O Levels and I don’t think they will be able to get friends to come over). The cakes and pizzas have been ordered and I will fry some samosas and spring rolls later when the kids come. The drinks and chips have been brought and all that’s left is to clean the house a bit and then have fun!

Exams start in two weeks time and so the next few updates should  be all about it.

Have a satisfying weekend folks and I’ll  come back with the party updates tomorrow.

Recipes: Palak Paneer

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I had been craving for some Palak Paneer for a few weeks now when I chanced upon this recipe on Facebook from Chef Sanjyot Keer of Your Food Lab. The recipe was intriguing enough to tempt me and when I chanced upon some spinach over the weekend, I knew it was time to try this recipe. This is very different from the usual recipe that I make which is inspired by Chef Sanjeev Kapoor’s recipe which is very simple. This one is slightly more complicated, but was super delicious and was a hit at home!

Palak Paneer

Ingredients:

  • 2 big bunches spinach or palak, chopped
  • 1 big cup frozen paneer (soaked in hot water for 30 minutes)
  • 1 big pod of garlic, grated or chopped finely
  • 1 large onion, cut in half and then sliced vertically
  • 4-5 green chillies
  • 1 bunch of coriander leaves
  • 1/2 cup beaten yoghurt
  • 2 tbsp ghee or oil
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds
  • 1 tsp cumin powder
  • 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1 tsp red chilli powder
  • 1 tsp garam masala powder
  • 1 tsp whole wheat flour
  • 1/2 tsp black or pink salt
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice

Method:

  • Take a large pan and boil water in it. When the water is boiling, blanch the spinach in it for 2-3 minutes and remove. Soak it in a large bowl of iced water for a  few minutes before removing and draining the water. This preserves the lovely green colour of the spinach.
  • When the spinach is cool, blend it with the green chillies and coriander leaves into a smooth paste and keep aside.
  • In another pan, heat the ghee and when warm, add the cumin seeds and let it splutter.
  • Then add the chopped or grated garlic and let it saute for a few minutes.
  • Next, add the sliced onions and let the onions slightly brown.
  • When the onions start to brown, add the cumin powder, turmeric powder and red chilli powder and mix well. Then add the black or pink salt and season with salt.
  • Now add the beaten yoghurt and mix well. Let the masala cook well and the ghee start to leave the sides of the pan.
  • Then add the spinach puree and let the palak cook well. When the spinach starts to bubble, add the paneer pieces and let it cook for a few more minutes.
  • Now gently sprinkle the wholewheat flour a bit by bit and let it get absorbed into the gravy. This is to thicken the gravy.
  • Lastly, sprinkle the garam masala and the lemon juice and switch off the gas. Serve hot with Indian flatbreads or jeera rice.
  • You can also add fresh cream as the last step before adding the garam masala and the lemon juice as well as a  garnish. I didn’t have cream at home and omitted this step.