Ask here - The recipes you want from ChitVish

Originally Posted by Chitvish

Dear Shanti,
So many have asked me this - so I am just repeating what I had been sending many by PM.
Friend, let me be frank and modest enough to admit that this question has boosted my ego !
I have a small scare that this is not a brief reply ! From early childhood, I have been an early riser. I get up by 5 A M, if not a little earlier. V gets up at 4 A M & I have given up, keeping pace with him ! After lighting the lamp in the puja room, I switch on the MW with milk, coffee percolator etc. I sit down for my early morning shlokas called Prathasmaranams.They ae a daily musty for me to begin a day. By the time, I am through them, milk & decoction are ready. With morning coffee, I switch on the computer & see the queries in Ask Chitvish or the culture thread. I start answering them one by one in the gaps of time. Till 9, I am busy with bath, kitchen work, breakfast, daily puja, cooking all dishes for lunch as well. Only the rice, I keep late in the rice cooker. After 9, I browse through the news papers etc.
Weekly 3 days I have my classes which take care of my mornings (10 – 12.30). We have lunch at 12.30. On Wednesday mornings, I do shopping, like for books, stationery & all odd things. Friday, puja takes more time. Every Saturday, I do my vegetable & fruit shopping for the week. Since ours is a compact flat, running to the computer ever hour or so & answering queries is quite easy. Broadband is a real boon to me. After lunch, I answer my e mails, private messages etc. There are some I L friends with whom I have very frequent correspondence. There are few, who write to me very regularly & I always write back to them promptly. Then I stretch my legs & relax for an hour, taking care not to sleep ! That makes me feel heavy. Lying down is like a meditation for me. I plan what all I should do, how I should go about certain situations in life – the list is endless. . When I lie down, I gather my thoughts. I plan topics, points, suitable sentences etc. Then I sit & draft recipes to be posted. I go through all my old recipe books very regularly ( they are all in tatters with over-use!) & extract recipes from them. I also write the culture thread topics with the greatest concentration. In between, I read my daily quota of shlokas & scriptures. We have tea at 3, after which I am back with I L work, writing, editing what I write, answering etc for sometime. If I want to try making new sweets or eats, I do them at this time.
In the evening we go to Marina for a walk. I love the vast expanse of sea & sky. I feel as though, my horizon & limitations expand very much ! I simply contemplate as I walk. My contemplation shapes my life as much as my doing. When I walk, I experience everything around me, but I hold on to nothing. I sometimes feel I become the world!
Back home, I quickly check queries to be replied before entering the kitchen to make dinner. I do all grinder work in the mornings, simultaneously with cooking. Morning is my most hectic and busy time. Along with tea, I make any side dish, chutney etc required for the night.
At 7, I enter the kitchen again to get dinner ready. In 45 mts-1 hr, all kitchen work is over & I close the kitchen. Now is my most enjoyable time of reading, reading & reading.
I do my reading, in front of my computer, so that I can note down points for my culture thread topics, favourite quotes etc. This time during my Madurai visit, I bought quite a few Tamil Ilakkiyam books. They are all out of the world. I also buy & read a lot of Vedanta & “heavy” books. I am not very fond of fiction. I love serious reading, but do not like to be a serious person! When I started answering queries in my forum, I used to ask myself if I can do it ably. But now I see that my fear helps focus my strength. I defeat my fear by believing in myself.
I have made a master list for monthly household essentials like provisions, toiletries, medicines etc. I finish all that shopping in the first 2, 3 days of the month. I have scribble pads in every room & note down what all I should remember to do. I love window shopping, particularly for books, gadgets, crockery etc. I like to keep abreast of what is happening around me. I spend very little time watching T V. I watch very few selected programmes. I don’t usually visit people, unless there is a need.
I close my computer by 9.30. We go to bed early. I tell myself before I sleep, happiness is not a goal. It is a result of doing what I like and relating honestly to the people, I interact with!
Shanti , I am sure you did’nt bargain for such a long reply ! Well, that is me !!
Love,
Chithra.

Chithra, My dear 'Adharsa Mangai'!

Amazed reading your multi-faceted, versatile and what not schedule...

You designed it in such a way to include relaxations or rather you are doing everything in a relaxed way. Finally, you end up being a role model. More than anything, I believe people should learn to live their life in a peaceful manner. You are teaching that.

Thanks for sharing is usual. I have no words to thank you in a special way. Let me include this in my signature, to increase the number of people who can benefit.

Long live, Chithra the 'Adharsa Mangai'...

Thanks to Shanthi...

Dear C

Your routine is amazing. Big thanks to Shanti for asking for it...!

I have witnessed my mother and grandmothers run the household smoothly like a well oiled machine. However, your routine is above that and is extra special like you. It is amazing to see how well you manage your time with no wasteful chores( I liked the fact that you watch TV less best ). You are an inspiration as to how efficiently a woman can perform and help others, from the confines of home and without disturbing the domestic routine a bit...! It is no wonder, so many fellow ILites find your routine so inspiring.

I am extremely impressed with your response to Aishu about crying...I don't cry in front of others( even mom or husband ) as I don't want to expose my weakness. But your explanation is really wise..!

-Gayathri.

Dear Oviya, my picturesque friend,
You have just clean bowled me with your love - I know not what to write back!
I personally feel, my vedanta classes have helped me a lot, in accepting life, people, situations as they are. I do feel low at many times - but I have now learnt to cheer myself up because I strongly believe, how you feel is in your own hands, rather thoughts!
How do I thank you except saying it heart-felt?
Love,
Chithra.

Originally Posted by Oviya

Chithra, My dear 'Adharsa Mangai'!

Amazed reading your multi-faceted, versatile and what not schedule...

You designed it in such a way to include relaxations or rather you are doing everything in a relaxed way. Finally, you end up being a role model. More than anything, I believe people should learn to live their life in a peaceful manner. You are teaching that.

Thanks for sharing is usual. I have no words to thank you in a special way. Let me include this in my signature, to increase the number of people who can benefit.

Long live, Chithra the 'Adharsa Mangai'...

Thanks to Shanthi...

Dear Gayathri,
Thanks a ton.
My first & foremost aim is always, not to be away from home for long time because, I am basically a home-bird.Probably, one reason is, I was never a working woman. I hate "gup-chup"ping with neighbours, friends etc because I believe 100 % that familiarity breeds contempt.
Now, don't laugh - I enjoy my own company, call it solitude! I love to star-gaze, time permitting!
Now IL comes second only to my home - God could not have been more kind to me at this stage of life &you know my favourite quote
The best is yet to be.
Love,
Chithra.



quote=gayathriar;296289]Dear C

Your routine is amazing. Big thanks to Shanti for asking for it...!

I have witnessed my mother and grandmothers run the household smoothly like a well oiled machine. However, your routine is above that and is extra special like you. It is amazing to see how well you manage your time with no wasteful chores( I liked the fact that you watch TV less best ). You are an inspiration as to how efficiently a woman can perform and help others, from the confines of home and without disturbing the domestic routine a bit...! It is no wonder, so many fellow ILites find your routine so inspiring.

I am extremely impressed with your response to Aishu about crying...I don't cry in front of others( even mom or husband ) as I don't want to expose my weakness. But your explanation is really wise..!

-Gayathri.[/quote]

dear chithu

can i request you to give us the Karaboondhi recipe,my honey???

lov
sowmi

Dear chitra mam
Really amazing to know your daily routine. Each day seems to be well organised. After reading it, I realise how much time is being wasted by me due to laziness.
Its really a eye opener ...and slowly my routine is also changing after joining in here with trying new recepies and also reading slokas and going through various threads.

Thankyou again for sharing withus.

bye
kapuchu

Dear Chitra,
I just went through "Ask here" thread as I had not gone through this in the last 3-4 days. Your daily routine was an eye opener. Thanks to you for writing for us and to Shanti for asking this question. I'm planning to take a print-out of this and put it on my kitchen wall for daily reading.
I also follow your vedanta write-ups and slokas and your puja formats. I know you don't like this word, but yes you are my "role model'. You are my Guru in every aspect. Thank you very much for being here and guiding us so selflessly.

With lots of love and respect
Hema

Chitra mam

Can you please give me the recipe for horsegram thogayal? I checked in the tips for thogayal section but I could not find this... Thanks in advance.

Originally Posted by Chitvish

Dear Oviya, my picturesque friend,
You have just clean bowled me with your love - I know not what to write back!
I personally feel, my vedanta classes have helped me a lot, in accepting life, people, situations as they are. I do feel low at many times - but I have now learnt to cheer myself up because I strongly believe, how you feel is in your own hands, rather thoughts!
How do I thank you except saying it heart-felt?
Love,
Chithra.

Chithra, My dear 'Adharsa Mangai'!

I'm honoured...

Regarding feeling low at times....
It doesn't count how many times we fall down, but the rising...
No one is an exception to that...But, it makes the difference when people come out of it...

You are practicing what you have learnt...

Better to write an autobiography....

Dear Chitra Mam

How to sliver almonds??

Thanks
San