Law & Order/Knitting/Brunch Party

I AM IN INDIA! I am here for the next four weeks for dissertation/life/family stuff. Yay Baby. I arrived early this morning...feel like have been in a plane forever. However, (again) it does not seize to amaze me that I am in the other end of the planet in one day. How crazy.


Before I left for India, I invited some of my girlfriends to our place for some Law & Order viewing, knitting, and brunch. Yes. Law & Order. I am a full-blown Law& Order addict. I dont remember my life when I did not watch Law & Order (yes, thats how much I am addicted to the show). It is a different story that we did not watch any L & O at the party, because people were so into getting to know each other, knitting, and eating. But knowing that my friends are ready to put up with my quirky, weird mind is enough for me.


Suketu and Ami cooked up the brunch. It was so great and so yummy. Thank you very much. A big thank you to everyone who made it to our place...it was a celebration of many things meaningful to our lives.


At the party, Ami received her much awaited wedding present. In addition, she is leaving NYC for Austin in the end of August, so it is also a "cant wait to see you again" present.


From the get-go, I wanted to make a blanket. A gigantic, "I cant have enough of" kinda blanket. I looked at several crochet patterns, but nothing really made me happy. I did not want to make a million granny squares because I knew I would be seaming them together forever. Also, I had a particular idea in mind....I wanted something aesthetically unique (to suit Ami's taste) and with a modernistic construction (keeping in mind Nihar's ideas about home decor). So I just came up with my own design of one huge (60" x 60") granny square made with a neutral color (I used off-white).






After figuring out the basic math (coming from me, basic might be too strong a word), this blanket is a breeze. In my mind, I call this piece as the Law & Order Blanket. There are so many episodes of L&O in this blanket...each stitch has its own story. So many stories. I thought I would never finish, but L&O kept me going.




I am sooo happy with the way the blanket turned out. I am especially happy that Ami liked it. Her whole face lit up--what else can a crafter ask for. It was worth all the yelling, screaming, and cursing. Ami is my best friend and sister by day and my therapist by night. We have big dreams of one day living in the same city, giving up boring aspects of our lives, and lolly-gagging the hours with knitting, painting, and thinking of the next thing we would like to make with our hands.


Pattern: Law & Order Blanket (own design; pattern coming soon)
Yarn: Plymouth Encore Worsted
Crochet Hook: 5.5mm
Size: 60 inches x 60 inches

Crafting Rut to Kitchen Cookie

I am in a crafting rut. You know those phases when you do even feel like picking up a needle (I sound like a traitor). At times, I have been pushing myself to finish some UFOs. Two Thursdays ago, Angela and I met at the Point for some knitting and chatting.




I worked on the beaded ripple stole for my mom...cursing the whole beading process (I am SEWING beads on the edgings! How crazy is that). I decided to add the beads after the stole was done...so I am in bead hell right now. And there was Angela, cruising through her Blouson (if you are on Ravelry, click here). Thank goodness Angela and I happily chatted away, otherwise I would have chewed off my hand out of sheer bead-desperation. You get no extra points for figuring out that since that Thursday, I have not picked up the stole even once.

But there has been other kinds of creation. Food. Yesterday's dinner was Kheema (minced meat). I had little time, so I churned out this super quick version of Masala Kheema. If you precook the meat and freeze it, you will have a meal in minutes.



Super Easy, Super Quick Masala Kheema

Tip: My mother knew we liked lamb kheema, so she used to add vegetables and potatoes to this dish. Good tip if you have kids or don't want to make the extra veggie dish.

Ingredients:
1. One pound of minced meat of your choice (I used extra lean lamb)
2. 3/4 large onion, finely chopped
3. One cup green peas
4. 6 oz tomato sauce
4. 4 tsp garam masala
5. 4 tsp coriander
6. 2 tsp chilli powder
7. 1 tsp cumin powder
8. A pinch of tumeric powder
9. 1 small cinnamon stick
10. A few bay leaves
11. 1 large dried red chilli
12. 2 Tbsp olive oil
12. Salt to taste

1. Saute the onions under medium flame until brown.
2. Add all the powders and saute the onions for another 30 seconds.
3. Add two cups of water, meat, tomato sauce, cinnamon stick, bay leaves, dried chilli, and salt.
4. Cook the meat until done (add more water if necessary). Now you have two options: if you would like a "dry" dish (which is less watery), see that you cook until most of the liquid has evaporated. If you would like a more gravy-like meal, add some more water.
5. If you are someone who gets annoyed by the extra, inedible stuff in the serving bowl (trust me, I have first hand experience), remove the cinnamon stick, bay leaf, and chilli before serving. Personally, I like it in the dish and of course, avoid it while serving myself. It is my weird belief that especially if you have leftovers, the extra stuff adds more flavor overnight.
5. Serve warm with roti or rice.