Preschool rhymes/songs- In a teacher's voice

 Songs are always the best ways to make kids engaging. Have you ever felt excited when hearing your childhood rhymes/songs? 

I have created a podcast of such nostalgic songs. The singer behind my podcast is my mom who is a teacher. She has been actively engaged with children for many years teaching and helping several kids. 

Here's the link to the podcast,

Preschool Tamil songs/rhymes 

Hear it!!

She sang these songs to help me teach my kids. And I thought why not to post them in a podcast. Many can play these to their children and hearing it this way has much pros. 

• No video to spoil the eyes,
• Kids can get interactive with actions,
• Repetitive singing of these help them improve their tamil vocabulary,
• They enjoy singing in action

Play these and sing with them, when you want to engage them in a quality time or in travel, so that fun is guaranteed.

The foolish donkey- Story for Preschool

 

This is a story about a foolish donkey who tries to fool his master but gets his punishment for his act. This story is for preschool kids and tamil version of the story is available in the podcast.

The foolish donkey(Tamil) Bedtime story

Once in a far land, there was a business man named Ramu, who earned his living by selling goods in near by towns. He had a donkey with him to carry his goods everyday to the places he travels. 

The donkey was very useful to him and it lessened his burden of carrying things everywhere. 

One day, Ramu was travelling to a nearby village and the donkey helped his master carrying salt. On the way they had to cross a river. The bridge did not have any support in the sides and it was just an wooden plank kept to cross the river. The donkey when trying to cross the bridge by mistake, felt into the river. Ramu immediately jumped and helped the donkey to come to the land. The donkey was terrified with this incident. And his master was sad that all the salt had dissolved in the water.

On their way back home, the donkey realized there is no weight in his back. He understood since he fell into the river by mistake the salt had dissolved. He was happy now to walk back without the heaviness of the goods.

Next day, Ramu again want to sell salt and the donkey helped him. This time the donkey purposefully fell into the river. Ramu did not expect this as he was trying to cross the river very safely, to avoid the accident happened earlier. The donkey was happy to walk back home with no salt. But Ramu understood the donkey's plan. 

He felt very angry and wanted to teach donkey a lesson. 

Next day, Ramu instead of salt took bag of cotton. The donkey when carried the cotton felt the weight was less and walked happily. As planned, the donkey again jumped into the river. This time Ramu did not hurry up to lift the donkey.  As soon as donkey fell into water the weight in his back had increased several folds, Yes! cotton absorbed more water and is too heavy now. 

Donkey with the heavy bags of cotton, with great difficulty came out of river. He couldn't walk anymore and Ramu made him walk back to home with this heavy load. 

Donkey now learned his lesson.

So, What's the moral of this story?

Never feel lazy to do the hard work. If we try to enjoy without doing our work, then sure we will get our punishments. And from then on, donkey never felt lazy or tried to fool his master.

SIBI CHAKRAVARTHY(KING)

 Stories are not meant for entertainment alone. Stories are a form of sharing valuable lessons to everyone. There are stories, passed from several generations, from grandparents, parents and it continues. There are stories on traditions, culture, stories from epics, past kings and their kingdom. Most of the stories are said to children, to sow the seeds of moral values early in their heart and to know about the culture, kings, traditions, history and many more.

I have added an audio podcast in Tamil. This will be a bed time story for kids. Please use this to listen to the story in tamil. Sibi King Story(Tamil) Bedtime story

One such is the story of the king Sibi. This story is from the tales of Mahabharata.

Many many years ago, there lived a king named Sibi. He followed justice, truthfulness and righteousness. The god of righteousness, Dharmaraj wanted to test the king whether he follows justice with his true heart.

One day, when the king was sitting on the terrace of his palace, a dove came at a lightning speed and sat near to the king. The dove was frightened and was looking protection from the king. The Sibi raja looked at the dove, gently touched him and asked him why he was worried.

And suddenly, there came a big eagle trying to get hold of the dove. The dove cried to the king, "Oh King, I have come to your shelter. Please protect me." Now the king understood the situation and was ready to confront the eagle.

The responsibilities of a king is not only protect his people, but the trees, animals and birds also need justice and protection. The king doesn't want the eagle to eat his prey. So he asked the eagle, "Why do you want to kill the bird? Stop this and I will feed you meat from the royal kitchen. You will get your best food, so get away from the dove."  But the eagle did not agree to the king's words. The eagle said, "I do not want to be weak one leaving my prey and having my food without hunting. You are stopping me from having my food. This is indeed not right action for a king. "King had already promised the dove for shelter.  

After a few minutes of discussion, the eagle agrees to set the dove free on two conditions.

The first condition was, "I will set the dove free but I need an equal weight of flesh as the dove, from your body." Hearing this the king was pleased. Now he is able to provide the shelter to the dove and at the same time the eagle's hunger would also be taken care.

He agreed to the condition. 

Now the eagle said the second condition, "If you drop a single tear when the flesh is taken from your body, I would give back your body but will take the dove instead. I don't want to leave you crying while having my food."

The king agreed to the conditions. The weigh machine was brought. The flesh from king's right thigh was placed in the balance to weigh against the bird. But to their surprise, how much ever flesh from the king's body is placed, the dove remained heavy.

They happened to cut most of the right side body and nothing helped. Now they have to cut the flesh from the left side of the body. That moment, the king's left eye shed a tear. Noticing this, the eagle said, "O King!, I am sorry. I have to give back your body and take the dove. I see a tear in your eye. I don't want to eat your flesh."

The king replied, "That tear in the eye was not because of pain or fear of dying. But the left eye shed a drop of tear in happiness. That it was able to share the left side of the body too, along with the right side. This way am able to follow dharma, righteousness and justice in saving the bird. "

Immediately the dove and eagle disappeared, and before him stood the Dharmaraja, God of Dharma and Indra, God of heaven. They both blessed the king to heal the wounds and get his body back and praised the king for his deed. 

Moral- This action of showing justice and righteousness made the king's name and fame remain in the world for many many years. And the Gods blessed him with long life and riches as the king bowed down to them with great devotion.

[By Photo Dharma from Penang, Malaysia - 056 W, The King of Sibi, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=40153291]

Maha Katha- Mahabharata - Ethics in an epic

Karna is one among the interesting and complicated characters in Mahabharata. 

I started with this line as a story to my now 7yr old LO, a month back while telling bedtime stories. I have told about many personalities, epics, space, Bharathiyar stories and songs. None of the topic exceeds more than 2 days. Sometimes the whole epic cut short to 30 mins or 45 mins, Silapathigaram- another epic in tamil, was told in 2 days. Like every kid, my kid is fond of Hanuman, so Ramayana stories went on board for 3 days.

 I knew Mahabharata is not one of this kind, that can be finished in short. Not because this epic is so vast and has several stories interleaved with many characters. It is because Mahabharata is a story for life. The world even now, after so many thousands of years finds the problems we face and the dharma to be followed on every situation of life in Mahabharata. And everyone of us can relate to a character in Mahabharata and our day to day struggles, pain and emotions.

But I knew that was too much for kids to think or carry in their mind for days. And discussing for many days they might lose interest. So I decided to tell my kids or should I say, introduce them to the characters of Mahabharata. 

Unexpectedly, starting off with Karna, we went a little overboard for a week. What could it be, to talk about Karna for a week? 

Yes! We read, discussed and did learn more about Karna. 

My favorite characters in epics or novels usually will be a strong headed, optimistic women Characters. I mostly never fall for any heroic or stunning male. ( I think the scarlet Pimpernel is a big exception,😊 because of the way we read it or because of the lovely teacher who inspired when reading, may be.. exceptional) 

Talking about Mahabharata, no character in the epic can be termed as ‘perfect’ or the so called real optimistic character any fictional story usually has. 

Initially I thought I loved Draupadi, then it moved to Arjuna, then to Krishna and finally, not the least Karna. 

And now reading lot about Karna I give up. Yes Mahabharata is not about a flawless hero, all bad antihero and a female lead to make it a fiction. But it’s a lesson all along. And every character in the epic teaches something for life!

And the reason for this post. Having read a lot about Karna, and as I start to explore on more about other characters, I thought why not to write about it. As discussions, and as stories, you can find some articles henceforth on my blog about Mahabharata.

Power packed Sandwich

Sandwich is the one dish which can be made with lot of variations. Just fill whatever you like or want in-between two breads and Sandwich gets a life!!

My family likes Sandwich a lot lately. Kids version of sandwich is quite simple with their favorite veggies a little( Yes ! a little) and lot of cheese.

My husband and I prefer to make it a power packed breakfast simply adding all the veggies and an egg goes in too!

Weekends mostly starts with this breakfast and we don't feel hungry for next few hours definitely. 😉

Many prefer to have it light and you can get 'n' number of variations and style it or design it, be creative and still call it Sandwich.😃

My recipe, which we enjoying having for our breakfast, here it goes.

Ingredients
-------------
Whole wheat bread - as required
Potato - 1 (Boiled, peeled and cut to thin slices)
Big onion - 1 (Cut to thin slices)
Tomato - 1 (Cut to thin slices)
Egg - 1
Lettuce or Baby spinach - few leaves
Cucumber - 1 (Cut to thin slices)
Green chutney - Blend coriander with chilly and salt along with cashew/almonds
Tomato Ketchup - as required
salt - as required
pepper - as required
cheese - thin slices
Tofu slices - optional
Any veggies of your choice. In this recipe, in addition to usual veggies, I have used Capsicum/peppers.

Directions
-------------
1. Boil potato and cut to thin slices after peeling the skin.
2. Slice all the veggies and sprinkle little pepper and salt all over and keep them ready.

3. Grind the coriander and green chilly along with salt. To make it smooth and spreadable, grind with few cashews/almonds.

4. Break the egg in a pan and add salt along with pepper. Toss it when cooked and keep the omlette ready. Or use a boiled egg sliced into thin pieces as in picture.

5. Heat a pan. Take a bread slice and apply the green chutney generously and layer it with the veggies, cheese and egg. We are not a big fan of cheese hence a quarter from a slice of cheese. And have added few drops of spicy sauce. We love heat!

6. Cover the spread with the other bread after applying ketchup all over. 



7. Apply butter around and toss it after the corners turns crisp.

8. Serve hot.

Tips:

1. Toasting the bread in low flame and applying butter from all sides, makes it evenly crispy. 

2. Sandwich doesn't need any specific recipes to be followed. If any ingredient is not available skip and replace with something else. Imagination is the key.

3. When you have any leftover gravies or subzi's, use them in your sandwich for a different and native Indian style flavored sandwich.

Patio garden 2020

Gardening was never my interest until I got married. Though my house always had a wonderful garden or we lived in houses with wonderful trees all along my childhood, I didn't find interest until I set up one post marriage. 

My parents made a bed of soil, compost and planted many fruit yielding trees and flower plants after we moved to our home in 2002. My garden was not that big, it was always a balcony garden where I had the most needed few herbal plants and a couple of flowering plants. This was my usual take. 

Since we moved to US, I always wanted to experiment growing plants here. But gardening is always a challenge here since its difficult to maintain plants in winter. 

In US, as every year pass by, the plants and pots have increased. For our small balcony garden, we don't maintain greenhouse effect still try to keep few annual plants indoor. Most of them being perennial, we enjoy the season with good amount of flowering plants. It all started with flowering plants, of course to create a lively and colorful ambience and also I love to offer to God almost all through spring and summer. Sometimes it extends to Fall too. 

This year I tried few microgreens, tomato from scratch, coriander from seeds and few more roses. Have made my children to check at them first thing in the morning and they share the bond with them as well. 

Watching them grow itself  is a very good meditation  and calms our mind positively.

Chellama Bharathi (செல்லமா பாரதி)

Bharathi!

This name means a lot to me. I never knew at what age I noticed him or from when I started to adore him.

His poems, his portrait, his life everything seems to be so close to my heart.

I carry a small version of 'Bharathiyar Kavithaigal' with me where ever I go. And the book has travelled with me to Thanjavur, Bangalore, Chennai and to Michigan,United States. Because I never want to miss that for the last 15 yrs. Thanks to modern technologies, but my small book has a lot of memories, feelings and stories in its pages. And I love holding that possession of mine. 

I could still remember, one day in my early teens, My parents planned for a shopping trip to Pondicherry. It was during the festival of Pongal. Those times where very special for us. And as a young girl, I loved watching the streets of Pondicherry and shopping there was fun. And this hasn't changed even now. 

But I was adamantly staying back asking others to proceed with the shopping, as I saw the movie 'Bharathi' being telecast in a channel. I knew I wasn't watching it the first time. Yet! I stayed back and we cancelled the plan. Yes, I love him.

And ahh! Why am I penning the memories of Bharathi when the topic choosen is about the great Chellama Bharathi.

Yes now to Chellama...

The more I loved and adored Bharathi, when I started reading about his life, my attraction and respect to Chellama was roaring in heights. She was an epitome of patience. Yes I mean it. 

When Men in Social life shines bright, its the light of the women in their family. The sacrifice and endurance to run their family, makes the married men to shine in their social life. 

Chellama not only married a man who stood by his strong belief in social reforms but he was also a poet who took pride in his writings.  Till this decade, an artist who makes his living performing natural art does his work struggling in the puddles of poverty. And Bharathi's life was of no exception.

She struggled all along her life marrying this man, trying to give her best to support him and this love for standing alongside him had brought several hatred for her in her own community. With lot of fear and fear, she always tried to have her best foot with him. 

Bharathi understood the importance of this women in his life only after his first child. Especially when he was advised the importance of  womenhood and shakthi by his 'Gurumani' as he fondly calls Nivedita Devi. And here's when Bharathi opened his eyes towards Chellama.

I always wonder reading poems with the name Kanamma . Thinking, where did this character come from. And my world of imagination always revolved with lot of questions with this character. To my surprise, it was only today, I found the answer.

The answer was very clear in the writings of Dr.Vijaya Bharati(grand daughter of Bharathi & daughter of Thangammal Bharathi). She mentions that Bharathi's daughter's had written that their father had always mentioned about their mother Chellama in his poems and it was not Kanamma as it was published.

They have addressed as, this might be the change made by their maternal uncle who doesn't want his sister's (Chellama) personal life to be in magazines.

Yes! my mystery revolving around my head for years is in peace now.

Her life not only put her in lot of struggles and stress, living with the man in pride, but even after his death. 

She along with her brother had managed to start a publication and print the Mahakavi's work. The hardwork her husband had put in, she could not see that go in vain. The strong urge in her was to bring in all that was unpublished earlier and to consolidate the ones published for newspapers. Again she did all of this against people complaining her efforts, the rumours that spread in newspapers about Bharathi's life. She faced everything, Yet she could not win them. 

But it was all her efforts that many of Mahakavi's writings came out to be published. 

She was not a celebrated hero's wife but a women the society missed to celebrate.

She was not an epitome of success always but she lived to spread the soul of her husband which is buried deep in his poems. And definitely she had succeeded in that. 

She is undoubtedly one of the best women, whom I love always and the one the world forgot to appreciate.

Reference- https://subramaniabharati.com/category/chellamma/

காணி நிலம் வேண்டும்! Kaani Nilam Vendum Parasakthi!

One of my all time favorites from Bharathiyar's writing! I love his imagination and admiration which passes from him to us when we read and imagine the picture he creates visually with his poem.

The lovely poem in Tamil, the transliteration and the translation. In the files of my blog! 

1.காணி நிலம் வேண்டும் - பராசக்தி காணி நிலம் வேண்டும்; அங்கு 

தூணி லழகியதாய் - நன்மாடங்கள் 

துய்ய நிறத்தினதாய் - அந்தக் 

காணி நிலத்தினிடையே – ஓர் மாளிகை கட்டித் தரவேண்டும்  - அங்கு

கேணி யருகினிலே - தென்னைமரம் கீற்று மிளநீரும் – 

காணி நிலம் வேண்டும் - பராசக்தி காணி நிலம் வேண்டும்; 

2.பத்துப் பன்னிரண்டு, பத்துப் பன்னிரண்டு - தென்னைமரம்-அதன்  

பக்கத்திலே வேணும்- நல்ல 

முத்துச் சுடர்போலே - நிலாவொளி முன்பு வரவேணும் - அங்கு 

கத்துங் குயிலோசை - சற்றே வந்து காதிற் படவேணும், - என்றன் 

சித்தம் மகிழ்ந்திடவே - நன்றாயிளந் தென்றல் வரவேணும்

காணி நிலம் வேண்டும் - பராசக்தி காணி நிலம் வேண்டும்;

3.பாட்டுக் கலந்திடவே, பாட்டுக் கலந்திடவே - அங்கே யொரு பத்தினிப் பெண்வேணும்- எங்கள் 

கூட்டுக் களியினிலே - கவிதைகள் கொண்டுதர வேணும் - அந்தக் 

காட்டு வெளியினிலே – அம்மா, நின்றன் காவ லுறவேணும்- என்றன் 

பாட்டுத் திறத்தாலே - இவ்வையத்தைப் பாலித்திட வேணும்- என்றன்

பாட்டுத் திறத்தாலே - இவ்வையத்தைப் பாலித்திட வேணும்

காணி நிலம் வேண்டும் - பராசக்தி காணி நிலம் வேண்டும்

பராசக்தி காணி நிலம் வேண்டும்!  

Transliteration
Kaani nilam vendum paraasakthi
Kaani nilam vendum angu
thoonil azhakiyathaai nanmaadangal
thuyya nirathinathaai anthak
kaani nilathinidaiye ormaaligai
kattith tharavendum angu
keniyarukinile thennaimaram
keetru milaneerum

Pathu pannirendu thenaimaram
pakkathile venum nalla
muthuch sudarpole nilaavoli
munbu varavenum angu
kathung kuyilosai satre vanthu
kaathir padavenum yentran
siththam mahizhnthidave nanraayilanth
thendral varavenum

Paattuk kalanthidave angeyoru
pathinip penvenum yengal
koottuk kaliyinile kavithaigal
konduthara venum antha
kaatu veliyinile amma nintran
kaavalura venum yentran
paatuth thirathaale ivvaiyaththai
paalidathida venum

English translation
1.I need a small piece of land , Oh divine mother ,A small piece of land, and there,
In the midst of that small piece of land you should build me a house with,Four pretty pillars and several floors and in there should be a water well, near which should be placed coconut tree with broad leaves and tender coconuts,

2.Around ten or twelve coconut trees , moon light should shine   there moonlight be like the lustre of a flawless pearl, the harmony song the bird cuckoo sings should reach my ears, amidst all this, as my soul rejoices, the soothing breeze spreading everywhere!

3.With the soulful song along with the breeze ,there should be a chaste woman by my side, And together in our joyous unison, poetic verses should start flowing freely. And Supreme Mother! You should guard and protect us! 
With the prowess of my poems, shall grace this world!

Fish kuzhambu @ Meen Kuzhambu

This recipe has lot of stories on how I learned after lot of trials and how we like this recipe. I never knew the originality of this recipe, we in north Tamilnadu including Chennai are used to this recipe, which is so common in every house. But the south Tamilnadu Fish kuzhambu is completely different in taste.

I learned this recipe from my sister-in-law. She is a excellent cook and few of her recipes are my husband’s favorite. Though my mom makes a similar tangy one, she never use onion or fennel seeds. Adding these both improves the taste.

 Here goes the recipe.

INGREDIENTS
-------------------
Quantity- Should be enough for 3 people
Time- preparation- 5 mins
           Cooking - 35 mins
----------------------------------------
Oil - 2 Tbsp ( any oil) ( don’t reduce the quantity as this affects taste and color)
Vadagam- 1 tsp ( have added a picture of this for reference)
Small onion- 2 (finely chopped)
Green chilly-4
Fennel seeds/ powder- 2 tsp (whichever is available)
Tomato- 3 medium sized( cut into quarters)
Kuzhambu powder- 3 tbsp
Or
Chilly powder and coriander powder- 1.5:3 tbsp( adjust spice as required)
Turmeric powder- 1/2 tsp
Salt- 1 tsp(as required)
Tamarind pulp- size of a lemon( soaked and extracted)( should roughly be 4 cups when filtered)
Mangoes- 4-5 pieces (2/3 from a small mango) ( optional)
Fish - 1 lb/ 1/2 kg (any available fish, I have used frozen wild caught Pacific salmon)

Steps
1. Heat a pan, pour oil, when heated add vadagam. As it start to splutter add fennel seeds/powder. Immediately followed by onion, next goes chilies.



2. Toss or blend together until onion softens and start to change color. Add quartered tomatoes. Sauté but don’t over mix.

 

3. Next goes the spice powders- turmeric powder and kuzhambu milagai powder or combination of chilly and coriander powder.
    

4. Sauté lightly. Add the tamarind extract with salt as required. Mix together and check for taste as it start to boil.


5. Let it boil for 7-8 mins or until the raw smell of spice powders goes off. Cover with a lid.

6. Next add mangoes if available. When mangoes are half cooked lower the flame to low-moderate and add the fish. Cook covered for 5 mins to get them cooked.
 
7. Open the lid and allow them to cook in moderate flame. This is will the kuzhambu thicken a Little meanwhile the mangoes and fish is cooked completely.
 

8. And the yummy kuzhambu is done. Can pair with rice and fish fry as I made for today. It tastes much better the next day and pairs with idli best.

 


Notes
1. Below is the pic for Vadagam. In North Tamilnadu, this is a popular seasoning used in making Kuzhambu/ tangy spicy dishes.

 

2. Once fish is washed, marinate with turmeric powder and a little of salt to remove the raw smell which is common when using fresh fish. Mine is frozen Salmon, which I have removed the skin and have marinated with turmeric powder.

 

Zebra Cake!

The chocolate and vanilla swirl cake. My kids and myself call it zebra cake 😄😄

This recipe is always a hit because of its spongy and airy texture. Alert!! Its too soft!!

Kids will love this for the zebra texture. Whereas the aged ones will cherish the coffee flavor that lingers in the mouth for sometime. Here goes the recipe.


Choco-vanilla swirl cake
-------------------------------
CAKE
DRY INGREDIENTS
------------------
220 gm plain flour/all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder

WET INGREDIENTS
--------------------------
250gm unsalted butter, room temperature
150gm sugar
4 large eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla
75 ml milk

COCOA MIX
------------------
25gm cocoa powder
50gm sugar
50gm boiling water
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/3 tsp baking soda

STEPS
1. Preheat oven to 180C. Grease the square pan in sides and base with butter and wrap with the baking sheet.
2. Make the cocoa paste by mixing the cocoa powder and water. Add sugar and mix until smooth.Add vanilla and baking soda to form the paste.

3. Take the dry ingredients in a bowl and sift them twice.

4. Cream butter with sugar until light and fluffy. Add in eggs one by one and beat them until all mixed well. Add in vanilla and the batter should be smooth and creamy.

5. Add half the flour to the batter and beat on low speed. Add milk and beat until all blended. Alternate milk and flour all blend together.

6. Take half the batter and blend with the cocoa paste. Mix evenly.

7. Pour the vanilla batter and cocoa batter alternating and once all added gently tap the pan in the counter to remove any air bubbles.

8.Make swirl/desired shapes with a wooden skewer or knife.


9. Bake for 1 hour in the oven until skewer or knife comes clean.

10. Remove from pan and make pieces once cooled.



Taste the delicious zebra cake / swirl cake / vanilla-choco cake. However you cake the taste is absolute delicious.