Wednesday 30 March 2016

DELISH CHINESE CUTLETS!

Hello my readers!
It's Tasty Thursdays in my blog today :D
And today I present to you the most different and yummy cutlets I recently tried :)
Made it countless times since then, and every time they are a hit! This recipe was originally shared on Masala Mornings, I have tweaked it a bit :)
Hope you guys enjoy <3
Regards,
Dr. Mom Chef xx

INGREDIENTS:
- 2 chicken breast, boiled and shredded.
- 1 cup boiled noodles
- 4 green chillies, either in paste form or chopped finely whatever suits you
- 1/2 tsp Red chilli flakes
- 1/2 cup green onions, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp soya sauce
- 2 tbsp Hara dhaniya, finely chopped
- bread crumbs as needed.
- I added black pepper, white pepper, salt and little chicken powder too all per taste apart from recipe.

FOR WHITE SAUCE:
- 4 tbsp flour (maida)
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1/2 cup milk

METHOD:
- Make white sauce by melting butter in a pan, adding flour followed by milk and add the seaaonings. Once it boils/thickens remove from heat. It's ready.

- Next add all the other ingredients to the sauce.

- Shape like cutlets and dip in egg and then in breadcrumbs. Deep fry.

NOTE:
Always put salt and chillies according to your taste.
Adding what I added is entirely up to you.
I shallow fried and they turned out pretty great too.

Enjoy ladies :) xx

Monday 28 March 2016

BEAT THE HEAT: SUMMERS ARE HERE!

Hello my lovelies...!
Summer is here and with it comes this unbearable heat. Karachi has heatstroke warnings this year too, so I thought why not give my readers some useful tips to beat the heat :)

1) Stay hydrated:
This one is obvious. I mean it's hot ofcourse stay hydrated.. but sadly alot of us forget to drink water which can make you all the more susceptible to heat stroke. People tend to think if you aren't sweating you're not dehydrating, but that is not at all true. There's a thing known as "insensible water loss" which basically means you may not know/feel it but you're losing water. So... drink, drink and drink as much water as possible. And make sure it's not too cold too. If you have a weak memory like me, download the app "water my body" and it'll remind you to have a glass of water :)

2) Electrolytes:
This is mostly important for those extra hot, heatstroke days. Drink water + ORS in order to replenish those salts. . Also if u need to go out on such days.. carry an ORS water bottle with you. Remember excess of anything is harmful and just don't over do it. Also patients of hypertension and diabetes need to consult their doctors if they can take ORS so casually :)

3) Cover your head:
Be it an umbrella or just your dupatta.. make sure your head is a bit covered while going out. This will atleast lessen the hot sun rays getting to your head directly.

4) Minimize exposure:
Go out only if need be. Avoid hanging out for casual trips during the daytime. In short become a vampire haha!

5) Sunblocks:
Get sunblocks and apply it religiously on yourself to prevent any tans and burns. There are special sunblocks available for kids too. Stock them up.

6) Hydrate babies:
Remember to give a few teaspoons of water to babies above 6 months old on very hot days.. even if you're not weaning. Check their diapers for wetness.. If you fear there aren't enough wet diapers please take them to an emergency. Babies are very much prone to dehydration.

7) Clothing:
As evident from the summer and lawn season coming together.. This is the season of LAWN. Wear light weight clothes which are airy. Avoid tight fitting jeans etc. especially during the day time. Tights can also take a back seat as flappers are the new IT thing.. and great timing too.

8) Avoid dark colours:
Remember be it makeup (lipsticks, eye shades etc.) Or clothes etc. Summer is the colour of pastels. Soothing light shades which please the eyes in the scorching sun. AVOID BLACK not only it'll look grim in such heat at daytime especially but also it'll absorb all the heat making you sweat and hot.

9) Diet:
Eat things which have a "thandi taseer" so to say. Have lassis and yogurts. Whip up fresh fruit chilled smoothies. Have loads of ice cream. Make lots of daal chawal.. add loki to your diet, and enjoy the season of MANGOES :D

10) Red flags:
Remember if you feel;
Dizzy
Lethargic
Drained
Feverish
Faint
Rush to the nearest hospital. And if you can.. pour cold water on face..head and legs. Drink as much as possible and seek medical attention.

In the end ill just like to say stay vigilant and take of yourselves and others. Help those around you.. Carry roh Afra, frozen with u in plastic bottles to give out to less deserving. Or ORS and tang sachets. You can also carry wet tissues. You never know when the tiniest action will help someone. Take care you all :)
Have a rocking Summer.
Regards,
Dr. Mom Chef xx

P.S. I am extremely Happy to announce that on SHARE IT! SATURDAYS we will be doing reviews on YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS. I am really impressed by and really admire such people who are so focused and who struggle hard to make something of themselves. These YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS REVIEW SERIES will be an effort from me to show case their talents and creativity. I'm sure you all will thoroughly enjoy reading about them and I know you will equally support them and help them grow :) so STAY TUNED. xox
(If you.. or anyone you know would like to feature on my YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS REVIEW SERIES on SHARE IT! SATURDAYS, please contact me on email (aban.najam@gmail.com) or message me on my Facebook

Saturday 26 March 2016

MOMMYS AND THE TALE OF UNWANTED ADVICES!

Hello readers!
I'm back with Mommy Mondays :)
The blog was inconsistent for a few days due to my personal engagements.. but now we are back.
This week I decided to give a heads up to new and to - be mom's and "you don't need validation" to old mommys.
Motherhood is tough, let's face. In fact tough even doesn't begin to describe it. Just think about it, you've got a little human being TOTALLY DEPENDENT on you for its every need. And it'll be depending upon on more or less throughout your life. No more individuality. . No more selfishness.. No more ME-Firsts. That is exactly why this job is the most rewarding. :) But the fact remains that motherhood is HARD and then we get some "well - wishers" making it all the more difficult.
These "well- wishers" can be your relatives...friends.. acquaintances and even random strangers. Yes.. even people who have no knowledge of your life.. take it upon themselves to "correct and assist" you on how you SHOULD be taking care of your baby... The irony.
Best way to tackle them :).. nod in agreement and IGNORE... in from one ear and out from the other. Do what you want to do anyways.. just don't offend them, maybe they are genuinely trying to help.
And if these unneeded advices weren't enough... comes the judging.
These judges.. also can be anyone from your family, friends.. to fellow mom's. .and funnily enough sometimes total strangers, who have no clue about your life but they will judge anyways.
They will start with feeding, every random aunty will openly ask how you're feeding the little one. Then comes Co- sleeping, formula and mother feed wars, pro and anti vaccines, Organic and processed food... and I can go on and on.
The point is please be prepared.. and be confident in your choices. . Remember you are the Mother.. and mother knows best.
Listen.. nod and then do what you like, don't take anything to your heart and also keep a check on yourself. Sometimes we are on the giving end of these unwanted advices.
Please acknowledge and encourage new moms. If you don't agree with their decision about something.. give your side of the story but choose words carefully.
Mothers need all the bucking up they can get. :)
There is no right and wrong in parenting.. Every Child. . Every mom...Every house is different. Don't put down others only because they have a different choice or opinion and also if someone shared something totally contrary with yours.. give them a ear and do as you please.
Motherhood is beautiful. . And tough as it is.. let's make it all the more friendly. :)

To all the mommy to be's, new mommies and old mommies out there... you're doing a great job! Hugs and kisses :)
Regards,
Dr. Mom Chef xx

Thursday 24 March 2016

THE PERFECT APPLE PIE

Hello lovelies!
It's that time of the week :D
Tasty Thursday today.. and I bring to you my most raved about and personal favourite dessert recipe: APPLE PIE!
The crispy and soft puff pastry enclosing the tender juicy sour and sweet apple in a buttery sauce infused by cinnamon flavour... This dessert has it all :D
The recipe is below... have made it countless times so rest assured.. It comes out amazing!
The puff pastry is very tricky.. especially the kneading so if you can get your hands on ready made puff pastry from the bakers then nothing like it :)
Hope you guys try it and give feedback like always.
Happy baking and lots of love,
Regards,
Dr. Mom Chef xx

INGREDIENTS :

For Filling:
- 8 cups peeled and sliced apples (approx. 8 apples) slice thinly.

- 2 tbsp lemon juice

- 3/4 cup white sugar

-1/4 cup brown sugar

-1/4 cup flour (maida)

- 1 tsp ground cinnamon

- 2 tbsp butter (for dotting)

- 1 egg beaten with 1 tbsp milk (egg wash)

For flaky pie pastrt:
(This is good for one big rectangular dish)
- 2.5 cups of flour (maida)

- 1/2 tsp Salt

- 1 cup butter (chilled)

- 1/2 cup ice cold water (for kneading)

METHOD:
For Filling:
- In a large bowl, toss the apple slices with lemon juice.

- Combines both sugars, flour, cinnamon and add to apples and toss well to coat.

- Spread one layer of pastry dough in the dish you'll serve (should be oven safe). Fill this filling over it.

- Dot with butter (put dots of butter over it randomly).

- Place second pastry sheet on top. Seal edges and cut slits.

- Brush the egg wash over the crust.

- Bake at 220 C for 15 min. Reduce heat to 175 C for 40-45 min or until the crust is golden and filling is bubbling.

- Serve hot. Best with vanilla ice cream.

Method for pie pastry:
- Combine flour and salt.

- Add butter and knead until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

- Stir in ice cold water, a tbsp at a time, until the mixture forms a ball.

- Roll out and divide into two. One is for bottom layer.. press onto dish evenly especially the sides. The other comes over the filling.

NOTE:
- 1/2 kg puff pastry is enough for this recipe. Form two balls of it for bottom and top layers.
- Adjust the sweetness and sourness according to your liking.
- If using salted butter for the pastry dough. Do NOT add the extra salt.
- Be careful while eating the hot pie.. The filling is extremely hot and can burn easily.

Monday 21 March 2016

YOUR CHILD'S TEETH: WHAT YOU MUST KNOW

Hello readers, the blog is a little late today. I just got time to write. Anyways.. today's blog is about your little one and dental health. Some advices to keep those tiny white pearls all healthy and sound until they are replaced by the permanent chompers :D
During my house job, I saw so many kids with poor dental hygiene and parents becharay lacking the general know how so I'm sure this post will benefit both. :)

1) never let LO sleep with a bottle:
This I see alot. Babies with total teeth destruction. Uncountable cavities and as soon as you dive in the history.. There it is.. The child sleeps with the bottle in mouth. Obviously it's easier for the parent to hand the bottle to the child in the middle of the night and the child also prefers sleeping with one in the mouth but this is a BIG NO. Please avoid this.. and if present break this habit. The milk is high on sugar and all through the night the sugary milk in the mouth attracts the bacteria.. causing cavities.

2) No fizzy drinks after brushing:
This point is for kids and adults both. Avoid drinking any fizzy drinks immediately after brushing.. that's when the tooth surface is the most vulnerable for acid attack. This can lead to enamel wear.. causing sensitivity. And anyways.. Please avoid giving these sugary drinks to kids.

3) Fissure Sealants:
I personally love this product. Let me give you a little background. The most cavity prone teeth are your molars, also the permanent ones erupt when your around 6 years (1st molars) and so you want to really take care of them. The most cavity prone area on the molars??? The fissures.
These are those tiny black lines you see on the top of your molars. Cavity usually behind from here.. as food particles get trapped here(minuscule) and they are hard to clean. So.. what does a fissure sealant do...? It blocks the fissures. . Seals them. . And smoothens them so that you can easily clean them. :) and nothing gets stuck in them. Best time to get these for little ones is when the permanent molars erupt. . 6-7 yrs old.

4) Avoid sticky sugars:
Every Child loves sweet. Candies and toffees and chocolates etc. But the most harmful sugar is the sticky kind. It is difficult to remove and thus causes cavities more. Avoid giving such sugars to your child. If you have to.. Atleast make them brush afterwards properly. (Remember best time to brush is within 15-20 min of eating something like this).

5) Bruxism:
Also knows as "daant peesna". If you notice your child grinds his/her teeth during sleep. Take her to a gp just for evaluation but also to a dentist to save those teeth. The dentist will evaluate the case and maybe make a night guard. . Which the child will need to wear in order to save the teeth surfaces. This problem is also present in adults.. and the remedy for teeth is the same.. night guard. Otherwise you'll end up with sensitivity. . Worn off tooth surface etc.

Hoping I help you guys in some way. :)
Remember to take care of your whites because they are the reason behind that perfect smile :)
Keep smiling lovelies.
Regards,
Dr. Mom Chef xx

P.s. This article is only for advice purposes. Your case maybe different and so please refer to your dentist for best assessment. :)

Sunday 20 March 2016

ADVICE ON BABY'S TALKING SKILLS.

Hello readers! It's Mommy Mondays today! Recently Abiha started saying "Mamma" so I'm kind of star stuck at the moment. :D
She turned 8 months old yesterday. So I thought to write a few pointers that'll help you with your little ones Talking skills.

I started talking to Abiha since she was little, not even 2 weeks old. Yes I used to baby talk.. but mostly it was like normal conversation. Now that she's old enough I try to avoid baby talking and using wrong words or tutlana, rather I talk to her like I would talk to any other person. Of course the tone is softer and even musical at times :) for e.g if she's crying. . I would ask her,  what to do you want? Are you hungry? Are you sleepy? I'll use the words she uses to indicate sleep and hunger but ill talk normally otherwise.. and she tries her best to answer lol :)

I sing to her alot. I sing poems. . Lullabys, I sing some specific poems when she's eating and believe me as soon as I start those she opens her mouth lol.. she has conditioned that way. I recite quran in ayats while putting her to sleep. Basically I'm talking/singing continuously. And I encourage her dad to do the same. . And we maintain the no tutlana rule.

Screen time plays alot of importance in babies speech and brain development. I have limit her screen time to around one hour. And even in that time I don't let her sit blankly and watch TV, I ask her what's happening, what the cat doing. .? Wow so many colours etc. So that it becomes engaging for her. Since I live alone.. I couldn't do the zero screen time which in my humble opinion is also impractical nowadays.. but yes limit it to the least possible.. before you little one turns 2 years old.

I encourage her to repeat words like mamma baba.. by repeating them over and over again. I refer to my husband as baba and talk to her and he does the same.. referring to me as mama. The baby forms association like this.

I teach her clapping and waving by doing the action and saying the word.. so that she associates the action with the word. And when I repeat the word/phrase she starts doing the action.

Remember till 2 years your babies mind is like a sponge, absorbing everything it can around itself. Teach, spend time, talk and play... and keep the running commentary going. :)
Hoping this post helped you guys in some way.
Did I miss something? Have suggestions? Please leave a comment or email me at aban.najam@gmail.com.
Lots of love to your munchkins.
Happy mommying!
Regards,
Dr. Mom Chef xx

P.s. If you feel your baby is lacking, and doesn't babble or say a few words by 2 years of age. Please consult a speech therapist. The sooner.. The better. And no harm in getting checked right? If anything, it'll give you peace of mind.

Saturday 19 March 2016

TWO MUST HAVE Kitchen products for emergency situations.

Hey guys! It's Share it! Saturdays on my blog today. This week was extra busy and tiring for me.. tending to my flu ridden little one, dawat at my place, guests and blog duties took the toll on me.
Things have started improving for me now Alhamdulilaah :) keep my family in your prayers. xx
Now during this week.. I had guests who came unexpectedly and it got me wondering that one should stock up on certain items in case of these surprise guests. And so I decided to review two products which are great for emergency situations and also saves alot of time.
These are Must haves, in my humble opinion.
My first product review is just about that :)
The second review is about one of my favourite products, it lessens the load for sure and saves time.
Hope you guys will love the reviews and feel free to let me know about other must try products.
Have a good weekend you all! And pray for our team today ;)
Regards,
Dr. Mom Chef xx
1) Crispy fried chicken mix by KNORR:
Now.. mostly I'm not a fan of these ready to eat masalas. But just on an impulse I bought a pack of this fried chicken mix. The image looked tempting on the cover.. but then, the reality is never close right? WRONG. I had unexpected guests over and I decided to go for it. Every household has chicken lying around, so I followed the packet instructions and just before frying the lot, fried a test piece to taste so I could make changes as I assumed it would be bland or missing something. I was so wrong... It tasted extremely good... very very close to KFC. The chicken was juicy and the taste had seeped in. The coating was perfect.
Needless to say.. The guests loved it and the day was saved! :D
Must try atleast and I'm sure after trying it you guys will have a pack or two in the kitchen for such emergencies.
Couldn't take a pic after frying as I rushed the plate to guests. :)
Note: I followed the exact instructions, only I used the packet for chicken which was less than a kilo, it was just towards a little spicy side because of it.. but this only added to the charm ;)



2) Freshmate Raita mix by freshmate:
Now I'll be honest, haven't tried any other freshmate products before.. but on a whim I picked this up while grocery shopping. And I haven't made raita any other way since then. Love the flavour and freshness. And it's extremely pocket friendly. Especially useful for the mint raita flavour as I always had trouble storing mint but this is perfect. Saves me alot of time and effort. This is also available in zeera and chatpata flavour. . Although haven't tried the chatpatta. . Love the zeera one too.
Have now seen multiple companies making such mixes, haven't tried any other as yet but good initiative.
Hopefully you guys will love it too as much as I do. Nonetheless it's best to keep one handy just in case.
NOTE: some people find the taste a little stronger so add a little first and keep increasing according to taste. The zeera is mellow-er than the podina.



This is not a promotional post. Although this is a PR friendly blog. You can contact me on aban.najam@gmail.com.

Thursday 17 March 2016

SCRUMPTIOUS DEGHI BIRYANI : PACKET- LESS

Hello readers! It's Tasty Thursdays on my blog again and I'm tooo excited to share my Special Biryani recipe with you all :D
Like a true Pakistani.. I love me some biryani. A week without biryani is like a day without chai- not happening. ;)
I tried various recipes, so many masalas.. but they were just not hitting the spot for me.. lately I tried this recipe which is a Madni Biryani copy cat recipe. I just tweaked it a bit.. and Voila! EXTREMELY DELISH MASTERPIECE.
I'm sure you'll all love it. Now... I want you to relax and go thoroughly through the recipe.. It may seen complicated and alot of work.. but it's not... and the end result is truly worth it. :)
Biryani is truly the most in demand dish in our country and making one that tastes and looks good is truly an art. Hopefully I can help you guys with the skill :D
Happy biryani making folks.. If you have any questions feel free to comment.
Regards,
Dr. Mom Chef xx

INGREDIENTS :
For Yakhni:
- 6 pcs. Chicken
- 2 tbsp oil
- 3-4 cups water
- 1.5 tsp Adrak Lehsan
- 2 hari elaichi
- 1 black elaichi
- 3, 2 inch cinnamon sticks
- 12 black pepper corns
- 1.5 tsp zeera
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp haldi
- 1 tsp Red chilli powder ( to taste)
- 1/2 tsp garam masala
- 1/2 tsp dhaniya
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon powder
- 1/2 tsp ajinomoto
- 1.5 tsp Salt ( to taste)
- 2 green chilli paste or chopped
- 2 tbsp yogurt
- 2 cubed potatoes (optional)
- 1 tbsp any biryani masala (optional)
Other Ingredients:
- 2 tomatoes chopped
- 2 tbsp yogurt plus, 1/2 tsp garam masala and red food colour/orange will work too (yogurt mixture prepare in a bowl)
- 3 tbsp Hara dhaniya (cilantro) chopped
- 1/2 to 1 tsp chaat masala
- 4-5 aloo bukharas (dried plum)
- 1- 2 lemon juiced (optional)
- Few drops of kewra n biryani essence
- 1/2 tsp mixture of jaefil jawetri n elaichi grinded (optional)
- 2 medium onions (fried till brown)
- 1.5 cups of rice (boiled till one kanni- almost soft but not quite there, in salted water with 1 star anise).
- 2 tbsp oil

METHOD:
- Brown onions and set aside.
- Boil rice till almost soft and set aside.
- Prepare Yakhni by putting all the yakhni ingredients with chicken. Cook until the gravy has a little extra water than the desired consistency. Taste and adjust salt and chilli accordingly.
- When the gravy is just a little thin let's say half a cup of extra water, add the yogurt mixture, brown onions, tomatoes, hara dhaniya, chaat masala, dried plums, lemon juice, aloo bukharas, drops of kewra and biryani essence and mixture of jaefil and jawetri.
- Cook the gravy till the desired consistency.
- Once it thickens add rice on top along with 2 tbsp oil.
- Give dum. Cover it and let the steam soften the rice. Place a tawa underneath. Make sure the flame is low.
- 10- 15 minutes of dum will be enough. Mix gently and serve with raita and salad.
- Enjoy this finger licking goodness and forget your packet masalas :).

NOTE:
You can also layer the biryani the traditional way. Also can Garnish it with more hara dhaniya, podina and lemon. Whatever suits you.

Sunday 13 March 2016

BABY 101: BASICS TO MOMMY-ING

Hello everyone, we are back with MOMMY MONDAYS. First of all I would like to thank all my readers for showing so much interest in my blog. Really overwhelmed and humbled :)
Today's blog is about the basics of baby managing. These tips include some which I wish I knew or was warned about atleast to prepare myself because we all know how hard motherhood can be. Luckily I had my mom guiding me every step especially during Abihas infant stage. Here I've compiled those few basic points so all those new mom's. . Expecting mom's and generally all mothers can refresh the knowledge and be prepared. :)
Am I missing something? Please comment and let me know. You know I love feedback :)
Happy mommying!
Regards,
Dr. Mom Chef xx

1) Feed Schedule:
Those of you who had elder siblings might know the struggle but for me , being the elder one, I was completely in shock and so not prepared. Infants need to feed after every hour if on mothers feed, and after 2-3 hours if on top feed. That means no all night sleeps, that means literally it's like feeding and pooping (will get to that in awhile). When I found this out I was taken aback. I had to schedule everything around her feeding schedule. Things did get better after 40 days and immensely better after 3 months. All those struggling mommies, hang in there... things DO improve once you start your little ones on solids.
My advice: if on formula, change duties with someone from the family half way through night and get atleast 5-6 hours of uninterrupted sleep. If on mothers feed, things will be harder.. If willing put a top feed one time at night so baby gets used to bottle. . And also gives you relieve to sleep for atleast 2-3 hours. If you can pump then also you might be able to sleep by handing over the feed duties from someone from the family :) and believe me it gets better.
Spit up is normal, if it's curdled milk and not too much, then no worries at all, if it's not curdled do talk to the doctor about it, but spit up decreases after 4-5 months when the little ones stomach sphincter becomes strong. 

2) Crying:
I had those moments of, I just changed, fed, burped... why is she still crying? Well.. I found out that babies cry for several reasons. . And once your baby starts crying.. and you need to figure out why, start eliminating these reasons.
- hungry
- dirty diaper
- sleepy
- tight diaper/clothes
- stuck burp
- bored (yes, you need to entertain them too.. play with them :) )
- craving human touch (sometimes babies just want to be held)
- colic (see if the tummy is hard and if the baby gets red in face)
- constipation ( when was the last time your little one pooped)
- check fingers/ toes, all body for any insect bite or any injury.
- fever ( check if baby is warm)
- ear pain ( babies get ear pain/ infections alot, move your finger over the area to see if there's any increase in crying)
- teething (this is for older babies not infants.. though infants can experience teething too rarely, check the gums for any bumpiness, and redness)

3) How to Soothe:
Soothing a little one can be tricky. Please don't rock or swing your baby alot.. They'll get used to it. A little to soothe them is fine but try other methods to soothe. For example, you can sing some lullaby, recite any ayat, distract them by a musical toy which has lights. Show them a rattle, animate... do exaggerated expressions, babies love them.
If your baby is colic, try those anti colic medicines like infacol and gripe water, after consulting with your doctor. You can also try those colic massage videos on YouTube. Cycling exercise for babies is great to help them pass gas.
Try burping for few minutes for any stuck burp.
Infants can poop from anywhere to no poop in 4-5 days to upto 3-4 poops per day. Best is to observe the schedule and figure out your little ones. If you see any sudden change from schedule, do talk to your doctor about it. If you think your little one is constipated, don't worry, consult the doctor, he will probably advise you to give luke warm gripe water or maybe a glycerine suppository to insert, so your baby can poop.
For teething best is to give teether, chilled is better. And remember there will be alot of saliva during teething and possibly increased spit up.
If nothing works.. and your mommy instincts tell you something is off, please go to a doctor asap. Remember to always trust your mommy instinct.

4) Burping:
Babies need to be burped after every feed. Sometimes they can take upto 20-30 minutes only in burping. That means by the time you're done.. its time for next feed. Best position is to put baby's head on your shoulder and tap on their backs gently. You can also rub your hand going up and down their backs. If they don't burp keep them straight in this position (head on your shoulder) for atleast 15-20 min then put them down. Keep observing them, if you see any discomfort, pick them up and burp again.
Babies can spit up milk during burp which can block their airway if they are lying straight, so never put babies straight. Always put the head a little inclined and titled to one side, so spit up can easily come out from the mouth.
A little tummy time (supervised) is great and recommended. Make your baby lie on its tummy. You can put a pillow under the tummy so the head is elevated and baby can breathe easily. Also works for colic babies.

5) Dirty diaper: (TMI.. move on if it grosses you out)
For infants it is advised to change diaper before every feed (formula) or 3 hourly. Check for the weight of the dirty diaper, it should have considerable pee so to know that your little one isn't dehydrating. If you find dry consecutive diapers, please go see a doctor as dehydration can be dangerous for babies. Remember babies can poop from anywhere with no poop for 4-5 days to 3-4 times a day. Just figure out your baby's schedule and observe.
Baby poop can vary in colours. Also depends on type of feed baby is on. Remember too much thick and too much thin isn't good. Any change in colour from normal needs to be addressed at doctors. Red and black poop needs emergency attention.
Once you feed your little one banana, your going to see tiny black threads in diaper. It's NORMAL. :) gave me a scare lol!

6) Day and Night Setting:
Babies not know when it's day and when it's night. You need to give them the message. This will also help in night time sleep. During day time, make them lie in a room which has alot of sunlight. This sunlight triggers their brains into thinking it's daytime and developing that sense. Likewise during their bedtime dim the lights.
Always keep a night light open with an infant or baby in the room. And always keep observing after few minutes.

7) Sleeping Tips:
As already mentioned about the spit up. Please make sure your baby's head is a little elevated at all times. Keeping it slight tilted will also help, just make sure to tilt it the other side after few days so as to not effect the shape of head.
Swaddling the baby is best, especially for infants. It makes them feel secure and therefore sleep more peacefully. 
Always remember to put one extra layer on the infant as to what you're wearing. And don't cover the head and feet together unless it's really cold.
If your using a blanket. Make sure it's not above chest and is always tucked in.

8) Alarming Signs:
If your baby is crying and you're not able to console please don't hesitate in going to the doctor. Fever, suspected dehydration, rapid change in poop colour, constipation. . All should be shown to the doctor. Any skin conditions, vomiting (different from spit up.. These are projectile and forced) also need to be checked from a doctor. Lazy or slow response from your baby is also a sign to take your baby to the doctors immediately. 
Remember always trust your mommy instincts. Nobody knows your little one better than you.. If you think something is off, don't ignore and don't delay, go show the doctor. If nothing it'll give you peace of mind at least. There is no harm in getting reassurance :)

Hope you found these useful. Preparing yourself and staying positive is key. Good luck to all mommies out there! xoxo

Saturday 12 March 2016

5 Must have baby care products!

Hello to all my readers :)
I'm back today with Share it! Saturdays.
My little one is down with flu and cough and it got me thinking that there are certain baby care items that should be present at home for emergencies.. so I thought I'd better share 5 must haves baby care items at home. These are not your average daily items like powder and lotions. These are products one must have in the home at all times so you can help your little one when and if needed.
DISCLAIMER: The following products in no way substitute doctors and it's always advised to go visit a doctor first and foremost if your little one is not well.

1) Infant panadol :



This is a must have. The dosing according to age and weight is mentioned on the pack. Of course best is to show a doctor. This is especially useful for vaccination pain and those after vaccination mild fevers. Remember not to give more than the recommended dose recommended number of times. It has a dropper to easily administer the medicine. Also if given 20-30 minutes before vaccination, it is said to ease pain.


2) Vaseline or baby jelly:



 Living in Lahore sometimes the dryness gets alot. Normal baby lotions do nothing then especially for winters too. Vaseline is then advised or if you can get your hands on baby jelly which is baby petroleum jelly. When my Little one has flu... I put very little around her nostrils so the constant wiping doesn't cause scratches.


3) Sudocrem:



Sudocrem is God sent for rashes. I use it whenever I see slight redness even and like magic it disappears. 8 months now I have no rash complaints so far. Apart from nappy rashes it also has alot of other uses and is a must in every household.


4) Saline drops:



Normal saline drops are advised when the baby has a blocked nose or flu symptoms. Few drops in the nose before feeds will help the little one with breathing from the nose and thus the babies can feed easily. Also before bedtime, it ensures easy breathing while sleeping. Be careful not to put alot of drops at one time and be ready for a little wrestling while putting this lol :)
This is also available in dropper packing.

5) Baby chest rub:



Another blessing for a flu ridden baby is baby chest rub. Very helpful in blocked nose and chest congestion. Just rub some on chest, back and a tiny amount of nose for easy breathing. Specially useful before bedtime for a sound night sleep. Also they say, if you put some on the babies soles of feet and put socks for the night.. This will help with cough.

I found all these items very useful especially nowadays when I'm dealing with a cranky blocked nose baby lol. Just keep these items handy so if need be you can atleast soothe your baby before taking him/her to the doctors. Once again I can not emphasise enough on this.. Please don't substitute all this for doctors visit.. nobody can guide you better. And use all medicine on doctors advise. :)
Pray for my little one and my sanity lol. . Those of you who deal with sick babies will agree ;)
Take care you all!
Regards,
Dr. Mom Chef xx

Thursday 10 March 2016

5 MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT ORAL HYGIENE.

Hello readers! :D
It's General Blog Day today, so I thought to write something related to health. Being a dentist, I came across alot of patients who had some misconceptions relating to Dental Hygiene. Some of these happen due to wrong word-of-mouth advice, other are due to the false images created by media. In this blog ill be addressing FIVE of these misconceptions, and hopefully clear them.
Have any questions for me? Leave a comment and ill get back to you. Remember "brushing twice a day, keeps the dentist away". :)
Smile away...
Regards,
Dr. Mom Chef xx

1 ) When to brush:
Ideally one should brush atleast two times a day and again within 20-30 minutes of eating anything sweet (best to avoid cavities). Now everyone knows the brushing twice rule.. what lots of people misunderstand is WHEN? We give advice to brush before bedtime (and don't eat anything after) and then brush AFTER breakfast. Believe me I've got alot of raise eyebrows at the after breakfast part. But see, once you've brushed before eating anything at night... your mouth is still in that stage, so it's better to brush after breakfast, to get any stuck food particles out. Now people question that how can we eat before brushing and I agree it can be gross, so just brush before and after breakfast, but don't skip the after part. After all its BEST to brush after EVERY meal.

2) Scaling weakens teeth:
This I got alot. scaling is basically professional cleaning of your teeth. It removes even the hard plaque (calculus or tartar) which is not easily done with a toothbrush. Whenever I used to advice scaling.. I listened to this. People used to be scared that scaling will weaken teeth and they mention people they knew whose teeth started moving after scaling. I tell them time and time again, NO.. scaling does not weaken teeth.. on the contrary it's very good and is needed for healthy gums and teeth. The reason some people do experience mobile or moving teeth after, is because their gums have become so weak with tartar build up that they have gown down or receded. And the only thing supporting their teeth is the tartar, so naturally once tartar is removed, such people can experience moving or mobile teeth. But if the damage done is not so much, such conditions are usually reversible and with proper oral hygiene measures, will go back to normal. On the other hand... scaling can and does cause sensitivity, but it's temporary and usually lasts 2-3 days at max.

3) Polishing whitens teeth:
Again a commonly asked question. After scaling, we rub a granulated paste on the teeth surfaces, to smooth out the rough texture caused by scaling. This is done to avoid staining after scaling too, as teeth become more prone. The term given to it is polishing. People expect to have bleached white teeth after it, which is not realistic. Teeth are only smoothed out so they may appear shiny (polished) but that's it. Some degree of whiteness might be there due to plaque and tartar removal. But your natural teeth colour won't be changed. For whiter teeth you might want to look up teeth bleaching or teeth whitening procedures.

4) Toothpaste all over the toothbrush:
This is a false representation created by media. Ads showing people put toothpaste on the whole of the bristled surface of toothbrush. You do not need that much toothpaste. The quantity of toothpaste advised is "pea-sized". Just a tiny blob will do the trick.

5) Hard toothbrush and aggressive brushing equals clean, white teeth:
WRONG! Always use a soft bristled toothbrush (until your dentist advises otherwise). The brushing should always be gentle and more like a massage. Hard brushing will only damage and cause wear on your tooth surface and may cause gum recession and most importantly this is the leading cause of sensitivity. If you have stains, refer to a dentist and he'll be able to guide you how best to tackle them.

Hoping I was able to clear up some misconceptions. If you have any queries ill be more than happy to answer. :)

Wednesday 9 March 2016

THE EXOTIC SINGAPOREAN RICE

Hello to all my readers :)
Can't believe my blog is almost a week old and we are back with another Tasty Thursdays.
This Thursday our feature is SINGAPOREAN RICE. Now this particular recipe originally belongs Huba Akbar and was published also in the Tribune ( http://tribune.com.pk/story/855851/recipe-singaporean-rice/ ). I did some minor Alterations which I'll be mentioning in the altered recipe below.
It is tried and tested and a great Favourite at all the dawats I hold, in fact I made it just last Sunday :)
Hope you guys try and enjoy it.
Remember it may seem difficult but it's extremely easy and also adds a wow factor to your table. MUST try and like always I urge you to leave reviews.
Recipe is below.
Enjoy cooking :)
Regards,
Dr. Mom Chef xx

INGREDIENTS:
For sauce:
- mayonnaise  1 cup
- ketchup  5 tbsp
- mustard powder/paste  1/2 tsp
- salt  1/2 pinch
- black pepper 1/2 tsp

For chicken vegetable gravy:
- boneless chicken (small 1-2 inch pcs. )  1/2 kg
- capsicum (finely chopped) 1
- cabbage ( finely chopped) 1/2
- onion ( finely chopped) 2 medium
- green chillies (finely sliced) 4-6 depending on taste
- corn flour  2 tbsp
- flour  2 tbsp
- salt  1 tsp ( or to taste)
- egg  1
- black pepper  1 tsp
- white pepper  1 tsp
- red chilli flakes 1 tbsp heaped ( or to taste)
- soya sauce 1 tbsp
- white vinegar 1 tbsp
- oil
- chilli sauce 1 tbsp
- chilli garlic sauce 1 tbsp

Rice and spaghatti:
- rice  1 cup
- spaghetti 1/2 packet

P.S. you can easily increase rice, noodles, vegetables to your liking.

METHOD:

-> Boil rice beforehand in salted water.

-> Boil spaghetti in salted water with few drops of oil also beforehand.

-> Prepare a batter for chicken by mixing flour, cornflour, egg, black pepper, salt, red chilli flakes with water. Make a thick paste, use water if need be. Drop chicken pieces in oil one by one after coating generously in the batter. Deep fry till golden brown and set aside.

-> In a separate pan, stir fry vegetables in oil and add white vinegar, soya sauce, chilli sauce, chilli garlic sauce, salt and white pepper. Once they are cooked toss in the chicken cubes as well. Set this mixture aside for layering.

-> Prepare the sauce by mixing all the above mentioned ingredients in Mayo.

Assembly/Layering:
-> In the dish you want to serve, spread rice.

-> Spread some Mayo sauce over the rice.

-> Then comes the spaghetti.

-> On top comes the chicken mixture.

-> Spread the remaining mayo sauce over the chicken vegetable gravy.

-> Garnish with chopped green onion.

-> Serve warm.

FAQs:
- You can use normal spaghetti as well as the egg noodle variety.
- This dish will be good for 3-4 people.
- Taste. Taste. And Taste.. so you can adjust seasonings to your liking. :)

Tuesday 8 March 2016

SPRING CLEANING AND ORGANISING: Tips and Tricks!

Hello to all my readers :)
Today is general blog day and since spring is already here I thought why not share some tips and tricks to Spring cleaning.
Spring cleaning basically means a thorough cleaning and organising of the house after the winter has ended.
As I'm residing in Lahore and was lucky enough to experience a winter if at all, thus my house WILL be needing the spring cleaning ritual. I'm sharing how I'm planning to go about it so you all can get some tips and ideas too.

1) Cupboards:
Winter has ended officially in my part of the world. . And so the season of coats and shawls etc.
Time to put away all the warm clothes and replace them with summery lawns ;)
I generally put my warm clothes wrapped in a cloth in a vacant suitcase so they remain protected from dust and also add those round white phenyl tablets so the bugs stay away.
Next winters just take them out and put them out in the sun for a couple of days, or wash them if they are washable and they'll be good as new. Also while organising.. make a carton for stuff you won't be needing.. and give those away to anyone in need or a good charity you know. The prayers you get will be worth the effort.

2) Fans:
Since Fans were off all of the winter it is now time to clean them for the hard labour they'll endure in summers :D
Be careful when standing on something to reach them and if you have help then nothing better. Take a little surf mixed water in one container.. and clean water in another. Wash with a cloth/rag, the wings of the fans, first with surf mixture and then with plain water. Dry with a dry towel and Done!

3) Windows:
I clean the glass with any glass cleaner OR plain water sprayed and cleaned with an old newspaper also does the trick. While I'm at it.. I seal all possible points of entries of lizards with small pieces of newspapers.

4) Bathroom Tiles:
This is a neat trick I use. Take any old toothbrush and with any surface cleaner( or make one 1/2 cup baking soda in 2 gallons of water) wash the surface between tiles, which is hard to reach. This toothbrush method is also good for dusting in between blinds.

5) Kitchen:
Clean all your cupboards. Take out everything, read expiration dates, giveaway what you don't need, replace what you want. Take old calender sheets and use them to line the cupboards while replacing all your stuff.
(I do this every month when putting up monthly groceries, best done this way)

6) Fridge:
Turn off your fridge and freezer for 4-5 hours so all that ice can melt, then with the scraping tool that comes with the fridge (don't use anything else, especially anything sharp) scrap off all the old ice.
Go through all the stuff present... giveaway what you don't need. Wash all the fridge detachables. For those sections which aren't detachable , clean with a wet cloth.

7) Carpets:
Get a carpet cleaning brush. It's the one that has hard bristles. Clean the carpet by rubbing the brush all over it. All the hair and gunk stuck to the carpet will come off. Best to use a slightly damp brush.

Apart from all this, dust your curtains (wash them if you have the option).. dust your walls. Thoroughly dust the furniture and make your home envy worthy for the upcoming beautiful spring. Put up fresh flowers for that wonderful smell. :)
These are the major things I definitely clean especially during season change. Do let me know if I missed out on anything :)
Happy Spring cleaning Folks!
Regards,
Dr. Mom Chef xx

Monday 7 March 2016

The Gift of giving Gifts! :)

Hello readers! It's General blog day on my blog and I'm here with a piece on The Gift of Giving Gifts! :D
I am BIG on giving Gifts! I love to think of ideas, plan great surprises and whatnot. I look forward to teeny tiny excuses I can find to gift my loved ones.
Now the gift isn't supposed to be something expensive... If you can afford it good for you... but the idea is to surprise someone with a little token from your side, and showing the receiver that you were thinking about them, and they mean so much to you.
Giving Gifts not only strengthens bonds, it makes any relation healthy also adds a much needed spark and refreshes it! And most importantly it's also sunnah, SubhanALLAH :)
It can be anything from handmade cards, a handwritten note, a single flower, to a well planned lavish dinner, a home cooked meal, a self baked cake, a novel... there are soooo many options out there.
For example me and my husband are really fond of food ( :p )... so when I see him working hard/ not feeling well.. I cook him something out of the ordinary.. and the appreciation and the smile is worth all the effort :)
Even on the universally celebrated days like mother's day etc. I love to gift my mom something... Please don't go about saying "every day is mothers day for us" etc. Yes... It is.. no doubt, but then a little appreciation.. A little something to show her you love her will do no harm... and I'm sure you won't be going against religion.
To keep your relationships fresh and exciting.. These small gestures add a little zing which goes a long way to make your loved ones feel all the more special.
I would advise all my readers to do something special for your loved ones today.. write a note, get some flowers, cook something different etc. ANYTHING and see that smile.. that's there all because of you :)
Hope you all have a very good day :)
God bless.
Regards,
Dr. Mom Chef xx

P.s. Here's a little help,
When deciding on what to gift someone.. this quote is my BIGGEST help:
"Something they want, something they need,
Something to wear, something to read."
Or in my case... something to eat.. haha :D
Happy gifting everyone :)

Mommy Mondays! : The secret to long night sleep.

Hello to all the mommies out there... :) and other readers.
Today is the first ever MOMMY MONDAYS on my blog, and so for this special day I thought to share about something which means alot to mommies... SLEEP!
Alhamdulilaah Abiha is an overall calm baby but the best part about her is that she has a proper bed time and sleeps mostly throughout the night except for couple of off days where she gets up for feeds only :)
Those of you who are fortunate enough to be blessed with mommy hood would agree that there is no alternate for "raat ki neend" in fact any sleep for a couple of hours without any interruption is the most luxurious thing.
Like most of the babies the first couple of months were the most tough. . But it is in these months that you prepare your baby's routine.
The most important advice my mom gave me during the post partum period was "set up a bedtime routine for Abiha".
And that's exactly what I did. Here is how you go about it:
1) set up a time in your mind that you want your baby to sleep by... For e.g I wanted Abiha to sleep by 11-11.30.
2) 30-45 minutes before your set time.. start prepping up your little one. I changed Abihas diaper, changed her into pj's, massaged with baby lotion.. and then fed her.
3) be consistent in the routine.. it'll take some time but then your baby would associate the routine with sleeping time.
4) after feeding and all... put her in her sleeping place (crib or beside you) don't rock or pat unless they cry alot... ignore the small whining and try not to make eye contact. If you can lie with them.. and decrease the lights in the room.
5) keep at it... it'll take sometime but inshaALLAH with all the hard work. . Your baby will be sleep trained.
Initially they need to be fed early so you'll mostly get 3-4 hours of uninterrupted sleep. But as they get older you can get upto 7-8 hours if you're lucky. :D
Also daytime naps would be less with this schedule but at least you get uninterrupted night time sleep!
Hopefully these tips and tricks work out for you... Like they did for me :)
Here's to all the hard work and struggles us moms go through.
Hang in there!
Regards,
Dr. Mom Chef xx

P.s. start working on it from the start. I started the routine from first week. Initially it looks like it's all for nothing but a month or two in. .. you'll start noticing the changes inshaALLAH :)

Saturday 5 March 2016

Anti - stress adult colouring books; Share it! SATURDAYS.

Hello to all my readers :)
It's first ever Share it! SATURDAYS on my blog and I figured I'd review something which is an ongoing trend as well as plays an important role in stress relieving :D being a weekend.. I'm sure there are many stressed souls out there.
I'm talking about Adult colouring books which are supposed to be anti stress. These books comprise of pages of beautiful intricate designs. The market has lots of variety from beautiful mandalas to detailed flowers and basically ANYTHING you can think of. Now for some of you those intricate patterns can cause stress on the contrary. . Like staying inside the lines while colouring teeny tiny designs.. but my advice would be... take it as a fun time pass... loose yourself in choosing colours... creating contrasts and don't worry about getting a little messy :)
For me this does work in stress relieving but then I always enjoyed colouring as a child too :)
For those of you who are not convinced yet and basically don't want to invest some cash in these colouring books( yes they are a little pricey.. ranging from 400- 2500 Rs.), you can easily print out images from Google. Just Google adult colouring books and download those free images that are available and then see if you're willing to spend some on the real deal.
The designs look so pretty when coloured and after all forgetting about your daily problems and just focusing on colouring and colour combinations etc. IS a tad bit relaxing.. If not more... :)
It's totally my cup of tea... hoping you find some much needed stress relieving.
Regards ,
Dr. Mom Chef xx

P.s. I ordered my book from liberty books online store.
All the images used on this blog has copyrights reserved and is solely MY property not to be copied or duplicated elsewhere.

Thursday 3 March 2016

Karachi and Lahore: What I wish they learn from each other!

Hello to all my readers,
Today is general blog day on Ramblings of Dr. Mom Chef and I chose a topic which is very near to my heart.
Born and raised in Karachi, it obviously holds a very special place in my life. For me it is comfort, it is stability, it is HOME.
Married into another city and the first thing that hits you is the distance from everything you once called home... The city, the people, the familiarity and most importantly your family.
It gets so much more hard for the girl, who does not only have to leave her family but also the whole place she grew up in... The whole environment.
The first few months of my marriage, I faced all of this, not only I was away from my family and basically everyone I knew... I was in a completely different city with a completely different environment.
Two years down the road... Lahore has a special place in my heart. The welcoming feel... The good attitudes.. The peace and quiet. . This is home now. :)
After I got over the stark differences between the cities and settled into my routine.. I began to notice just how different the people living in these cities behave. From the way they go about their daily routines to how they generally are... There is so much difference it's not even funny.
Yes culture plays a part... ethnicity plays a part... but what I'm talking about is something different.
Karachi being a major city, has turned its residents into people who want to get over the day and survive. The crime rate has turned people weary and unsure of each other. The crazy busy routine leave the people with little or no time for things that matter the most, like Family! On the contrary Lahore being a calm, smaller city with low crime rate and easy life has all of this.
What I wish Karachi learns from Lahore is;
Slowing it down... life is not a task to get over with... enjoy every day as it happens.
Calm down.. though it seems so, but nobody is out to get you, a little empathy will get you a long way.
Patience.. in Karachi time means money.. but a little patience is all you need to get things going. Relax... breathe.
Lahore on the other hand... my sweet slow paced city.. gets a little too slow paced for me sometimes. The things I wish Lahore learned from Karachi;
Get up and get it done attitude... The totally laid back attitude can become a little frustrating sometimes. . Especially for someone who comes from a city that never sleeps. Lahore needs to quicken the pace a bit.
Standing up for one's self... This one hits me pretty close. In Karachi people know their rights and they go to extremes to get them.. In Lahore the feel I get is... They don't care, lol :p for example if the electricity is gone for 12 hours... They are okay with it.. jab ana hai ajaegi.. While if the same thing happened in Karachi, I'm sure lots of tyres would have been burnt, people would have come out on the streets and what not. Yes, both are extremes but Lahore needs to stand up for itself where need be because unfortunately in our country, the higher authorities start taking such people for granted.. exactly what's happening to Lahore nowadays.
Both the cities are extremely near and dear to me... and I am constantly asked which I find better, to which I start giving out the positives of both. It's impossible to choose... They are like my babies. And just like two individuals they need to learn things from each other to better themselves.
I am a very patriotic person and the state of the county really hurts me. Its time for us to come together not as punjabis pathans. . But as Pakistanis. Forget the differences.. learn from each other. . It is not a competition.
Here's hoping to a Better, Successful and Powerful Pakistan.
More power to you all,
Regards,
Dr. Mom Chef xx

Easiest, no - bake Banoffee pie!

I wanted to make our very first TASTY THURSDAYS extra special. So, I'll be sharing one of my very own recipe for which I'm considered something of an expert :D
In my two years of marriage and since I took the charge of cooking I can not recall how many times I have made Banoffee Pie. It's like a default dessert present at countless dawats, family dinners and even made on requests.
And when you have tons of dawats to cater to... you need one totally reliable and safe dessert which is also easy to make and requires minimal time.
In order to perfect it I have tried the baked variety, the dulche de leche variety and even the butter cookies base variety. But this recipe.. THIS is perfection in every way.
The ingredients along with method is below. I have also added some FAQs so you guys have no problems hopefully.
Waiting for you all to try this and give me feedback.
Cook away...
Regards,
Dr. Mom Chef xx

Recipe is as follows :

1st layer (bottom layer):
-1 pack of digestives(250g) crushed finely but not made into powder.
-1/2 cup butter
-> add melted butter to crushed biscuits.. press as a layer in the dish you'll serve in. Smooth it out and pop it in the fridge to chill for at least 1-2 hours.

2nd layer (lower middle layer):
- add sliced bananas to the biscuit layer. The quantity depends on you, but around 4-5 medium sized bananas would be good.

3rd layer (upper middle layer):
I made my own caramel sauce :D
-1/2 cup butter
-1 cup brown sugar
-1/2 pack cream
-> melt butter.. add sugar.. melt it. Add cream. Keep stirring until everything comes together and mixes. Keep removing from heat so it doesn't burn and keep stirring.. Once it thickens and gets sticky (I check with fingers but CAUTION: it's very HOT). Remove from heat and let it cool. Then add it over the bananas.

4th layer (topmost layer):
Beat cream remaining half pack plus 1 more =1.5 packs (chilled in freezer) in a container (also chilled in the freezer). If you can, put the beater in freezer to.
15-20 min in the freezer would be enough.  I was surprised just how airy it got.. so light and fluffy. If you can find whipping cream, then nothing better. Spread it onto the caramel layer.

Garnish: sprinkle cocoa powder, or grated chocolate on top. Serve chilled.

FAQs:
1) You can use salted or unsalted butter, won't make any difference.
2) Digestive biscuits give the desired result, I won't advice using any other biscuits.
3) I have been asked multiple times that the biscuit layer gets hard, hasn't happened with me but the trick is it has to be a bit firm so you can easily cut it. But if it gets too hard, you can avoid it by not compressing the biscuit layer alot in the dish, also you can add a little more butter.

If there are any more questions, feel free to ask away. :)

DISCLAIMER: The picture (s) used are mine only and not permitted to be copied or used elsewhere.

Wednesday 2 March 2016

About the blog!

Hello beautiful people :)
So.. as I go about starting my blog.. and getting all excited :D I was thinking as I have alot to share and talk about. . How about I assign some days to specific topics.. that way it will be easier for the reader too.
For e.g ill be sharing mommy related stuff: tips and tricks on Mondays; calling it Mommy Mondays :) and so on. This way the the readers can choose which segment of the blog they would like to read up in case they want to do selective reading :)
For now this will be the pattern (below) .. let me know if you guys want any changes.. suggestions are always welcome here.
Thank you all.
Regards,
Dr. Mom Chef xx

Mondays will be all about mommy hood and so will be called MOMMY MONDAYS.
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and will be GENERAL BLOG DAYS, where everyday struggles, life hacks, home management tips and tricks, and general life Ramblings etc will be shared.
Thursday will be all about food, so you can try recipes over the weekend. Some recipes will be my original, others will be those I have tried and tested and improvised (full credit will be given to the original poster), and so will be called TASTY THURDAYS.
Saturday will be all about reviews, it can a review about anything from a new masala I tried, a new baby product, a new makeup product or even a new restaurant etc. And so will be called as SHARE IT! SATURDAYS.
Fridays and Sundays will be no post days! A little break to spend time with my family :)

P.s all suggestions are welcome... any changes you would like to see etc. I want this blog to be as reader friendly as possible. :) so just leave a comment with your suggestion and feedback. Thanks!
Let the Ramblings begin :)

Tuesday 1 March 2016

Introduction

Hello to all my readers. :)
This blog is about ME.. a stay at home dentist who got married months after getting her license and just when she was getting the hang of married life became a mom to a precious (and naughty) baby girl.
She is a handful and currently 7 months old.
In my crazy 2 years of marriage I found my love and passion for cooking. Experimenting and perfecting recipes. . Daily decisions on what to cook etc.
So in short...
you'll get to hear my tantrums as I dodge the motherhood bullets,
You'll get amazing tested and tried recipes,
And you'll also get to experience what I go through as a doctor stay at home wife.
I'm sure many... If not all will relate to all my ramblings.
Please subscribe to get your daily dose of ramblings so you can nod your head away in agreement AND get your daily fix of amazing recipes :D
See you around folks!
Regards,
Dr. Mom Chef,
xox