Falling in love with Fall

  
Fall is season of colors as leaves turn into shades of yellow, red, green and even some purple.  This year we visited Vermont to enjoy fall colors before everything turned white with snow.  Vermont is one the best place for fall because this state has lot of mountains and huge farm lands.  Where ever you go the mountains follow you.  When the fall colors are at the peak the mountains are covered with tapestry of colors.

 

While in Vermont we went to a park where there were trees covered with yellow flowers, I mean leaves that turned bright yellow.  The path is also covered with yellow leaves. While walking on the path I felt like a celebrity being welcomed by these trees as the leaves fell on my head and shoulders.

Vermont is not only known for fall season but also very popular during winter, especially for skiing. There are plenty of farm lands where you can get fresh milk and eggs. Another must do when you visit Vermont is antique shopping.  You can find unique items at reasonable prices.

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Our vacation made me fall in love with the Fall season.  Which is why I decided to decorate my dining table with fall theme.  This year we went pumpkin picking with my little pie.  He enjoyed it a lot as he picked up pumpkins and placed them in the basket with his tiny little hands.  I placed the pumpkins that he picked on the table along with fall decorating pieces.

Time to go prepare a Thanksgiving feast befitting this decoration.

Dum Biryani

Who doesn't know Hyderabadi dum biryani?  Not just in India but it is renowned world over.

Today I am going to show you how to make dum biryani the way I learned from my brother.

Ingredients

1 Kg Chicken meat 

1 Kg rice

4 Spoons Ginger Garlic paste

1 Spoon Turmeric powder

     1 Spoon Red chilies powder

1 Spoon garam masala

Half cup yogurt

1 cup fried onions

Bunch of mint and coriander leaves 

Salt according to the taste

Biryani Rice Masala Ingredients

2 bay leaves

1/2 spoon  cumin seeds

1/2 spoon cardamom

1/2 spoon black pepper seeds

2 cinnamon sticks 

2 Nutmeg

2 Star anise

2 Mace

4 Cloves

Let start the process

First take the chicken, preferably thigh pieces (or any other fleshy pieces will do). Wash thoroughly and add turmeric powder, salt, red chilli powder, garam masala, ginger garlic paste, fried onions and yogurt.  Mix thoroughly and let it marinate for an hour.

Then start cooking rice by first adding gee or butter to rice cooker.  Add all of biryani rice masala items and roast for 3 minutes. 

Wash the rice, soak it in the water for 20 minutes and add little bit of salt. Add the rice mix to the cooker, cook for 15 minutes until the rice is half boiled.

Drain all the water out of rice and store it in a separate container.

Now start the cooking process of dum biryani.  Take a big container and pour 4 spoons of oil or butter, then add all the marinated chicken and cook it for 15 minutes. You can add more salt and chilli powder now according to your taste.

After the chicken becomes softer add fried onions on top of the chicken.

Spread the previously half boiled rice on the chicken.  Add mint and coriander leaves.  Cover the cooker with lid and let it cook for 45 minutes in low flames. To make sure that biryani is cooked properly check the tenderness of the chicken.

Finally dum biryani is ready, serve it with raita . Enjoy biryani with your friends and family members.

Silk and Pattu sarees with matching accessories

Every Indian woman's wardrobe has lot of sarees meant for various occasions, parties, weddings, casual wear, temple visits and so on.  And of course much importance is given to matching accessories as well like bangles, earrings etc.  Today I am going to show you part of my saree collection and the matching accessories.

First one is banaras silk pattu saree.  Good for wedding occasions or even good for bridal wear.  It is a green saree mixed with red and gold zari border with a zari peacock design throughout the saree.  Border contains elephant, various birds and lotus flower designs - nature motif.

Next is the jewelry selection for the saree. The saree has red border so I chose earrings with red and gold color combination. Then for the necklace I chose a traditional and antique type with ruby and emerald color combination which matches with the saree.

It is a heavy wedding saree so keeping with the theme I have one more necklace that is long with three steps.

Blouse work is green, gold and stone like a peacock feather design on red blouse, which matches with the saree's zari work. The contrast and combination of colors surely standout.

Next comes the bangles.  The bangles for this saree are red and gold color combination of silk thread with stones around the bangles which match the earrings, bringing an elegant and beautiful look. Papadi billa with ruby, small pearl.  Lastly red color bindhi with white stone on it completes a perfect look for a wedding occasion.

With all beautiful accessories this is a traditional and elegant look. 

Second saree is uppada silk with ikkat style design. It is vibrant blue, sea green and gold color combination saree with a simple gold zari border. The saree has rich and beautiful look.

The accessories I have chosen are of multi color combination which matches with saree. I went for earrings simple blue color with stones and pearls on them.  Even the jewelry has multi color pearls. Chain and necklace are multi color ruby, emerald and diamond, peacock design set.

For the bangles too i chose multicolored silk thread that matches with the saree. The bangle mirrors, pearls around them and all the stones brings much vibrancy to the accessories. Lastly blue bindhi that is long leaf shaped with a stone on it.

Third sari is pink crepe silk saree a gold zari border with flower design on it. I chose gold color blouse that matches the border.

 

Here I have chosen accessories of different color combinations.  The bangles are pink and light pink with gold and white color stone combination which match the saree colors of pink and gold.

Jewelry is also simple, a simple pearl necklace with round pendant that matches the border of the saree. Ear rings also are also simple that match the saree.

 Anyone wearing this pink sari with these simple but elegant accessories will surely look like a princess.

Next sari is Binny silk red saree with square pattern through out and flower zari border. The red saree will contrast green blouse and the gold work on the blouse will match with gold zari border of the saree.

The accessories are very simple, traditional and match the saree style.  Coming to jewelry necklace has heart shaped pendant and ear rings are flower shaped.

Finally bangles have all three colors of the saree and blouse - gold, red and green.

Next is dark blue mixed cotton saree with large gold border.

Because of the saree's large heavy border I chose simple accessories. Jewelry is simple chain with long pendant and long ear hangings. Bangles are combination of dark blue and gold combinations that match with saree.  Mirror stones on the bangles look elegant.

Next is light blue chiffon saree with gold border and contrasting gold blouse with mirrors on it. This saree is good for small occasions like birthday parties.

The accessories I chose here are also very simple. Pearl chain with gold pendant and pearl studs.  Bangles are blue and gold color combination that match with the saree.  Over all the look is decent and elegant with all the accessories.

Next is Banaras pattu  pink party wear saree with plain green and blue border and pattern of a girl playing musical instrument.

For this pink saree contrasting blue blouse goes well. There is embroidery work with design of peacocks and stones and colors that match with the saree.  The blouse itself with it embroidery work stands out.

Then comes the jewelry, a necklace that matches the blouse design with peacocks on it.  The ear rings are also a combination of three colors that match the necklace.

Bangles with the pink, gold, blue and green colors match with the saree.

Overall this saree with the accessories looks rich and elegant.

Next one is plain yellow with the gold and pink border uppada saree. The blouse is mix of pink and orange colors and mirror work throughout is a perfect combination for this saree. 

The bangles are combination of pink yellow and gold.  Jewelry consists of simple ruby and white stone necklace and matching earrings.

 

Overall this saree with the accessories looks bright and rich.

Before finishing this post I am going to tell you guys about a poem called 'caru lo shikaru ki velle' written by Sri Sri, a great Telugu poet.  The poem reminds me that all these beautiful things I enjoy are result of someone's hard work.

We always compliment the person who is wearing the saree/jewelry but never think of the designer, weaver, jewelry maker who created that beautiful product.  These extraordinarily skilled artisans, whose identity we might never know, deserve a moment of thought at the least.

And lastly, the way you smile and receive a person with warmth will make you more beautiful than the most elaborate saree or the most expensive jewelry in the world.