Cross Body Hobo Bag

Make a chain of 40 and single crochet in the top loop of each chain, at the end chain 1 and turn your work and single crochet in the top loop again this will create the ribbed crochet look, when you reach the end chain 1 and turn your work do single crochet in the top loop, repeat this for 7 10 8 rows depending on however you want the look to be.

                               

Then for the broom stick stitch or peacock stitch, you can use the same color yarn or a contrasting color, pull up a loop from each single crochet and insert them into a knitting needle, there should be a total of 40 loops, now to close the loop take a group of 5 loops, pinch them with your thumb, considering it as a single loop, make 5 single crochets around it, so that you will end up with 8 peacock stitches.
For the next row continue doing the single crochet ribbed stitch. Continue to the desired length you want.

       Now fold it into half leaving a flap of about 4 inches at the top to close the bag, and sew the ends. Make a strap of your desired width and length, I made chain of 5 and did single ribbed crochet.

 Attach the straps to the ends by sewing, and attach buttons, I have used the middle hole in the peacock stitch as a button insert.

Chicken Ball Gravy

Ingredients Needed : onion, tomatoes, g&g paste, chiilipowder, turmeric and ground chicken.

For the balls saute the onions, green chiilies, g&g paste and add it to the ground chicken with salt and turmeric and make it into small balls.

Now for the gravy  season some whole garam masala, saute onions and gg paste and tomatoes with chilli powder and salt, once done add some cashew and coconut paste(optional) it adds thickness to the gravy.

Add desired water to the gravy and bring it to ball, now drop the balls one by one to the boiling gravy.

                  Cook it for 10 to 13 mins, your yummy chicken ball gravy would be ready.

                            Note: Do not mix the gravy immediately, the balls might break.

Mutton Keema

Heat the oil add the spices and onions, once done add ginger garlic paste cook it foe few minutes then add tomatoes.

                               

After the oil gets separated from the tomatoes add the ground meat, chilli powder, salt and turmeric, mix it well.

                               

              Cook it well until the moisture is completely gone and it becomes nice and dry.

                               

You can use this keema to make parathas, dosa, uthappam or you can have it just like that with rice.

Southern Style Mutton Gravy

 

        Heat some oil and add the spices, green chillies and ginger garlic paste, saute it for few minutes.

                               

              Add the onions and tomatoes saute it and cook it well, once done add the mutton.

                               
           
                Add the chiili powder, salt and turmeric and pressure cook it for about 15 mins.

                               

                  In the mean time grind a paste of coconut, fennel seeds and  cashews.

                               

                       Add the coconut paste and bring it to boil and cook it for about10 mins.
           

                               
             

Miniature Book Earrings

Mini Book Earrings, Its very simple and fun to make, My daughter helped me to cut the paper, this is my first try with earrings. I thank Mrs Kathe Rauch who taught me how to make this.

You can take print out of your own choice of book, the printouts could be taken in regular paper and apply 2 to 3 coats of modpodge on it, so that it becomes stiff and hard. Or you can print it out in photo paper.

For the pages you can simply fold the paper about 4 times and cut it out to the size of the book and now fold the book cover and stick the pages to the spine of the book.

Make a hole at the top corner of the book with the help of a push pin or nail and insert a jump ring and attach the hook to it and close the jump ring.

You can print out the below image to make one.

Candle Holder decor

Make your own design on a glass candle holder, with readily available items.

For this holder I have used glitter ,salt and food color.

Make your own template on a piece of paper, make sure the paper fits into the candle holder.

Place that template paper inside the holder and stick the edges of the paper to the holder with tape so that it doesn't move while you trace the design outside, you can do that with a marker or paint, I have used paint to do it so that it pops out well.

Now use the glitter glue of your desired color and fill the gaps inside your design, you can do the same thing on all the four sides or can do something like what I did.

I mixed some Epsom salt with food color(red) and I mixed some glitter powder to it as well but it didn't make much difference so just food color would be enough or you can try mixing with paint of your desired color, not sure if the salt will melt.

I used painter's tape to make the design, apply modpodge or glue onto the surface and sprinkle the salt generously and dust off the excess with a paint brush once it dries out.

Potato Roll Gravy

Ingredients Needed are potatoes, cauliflower or any kind of veggies, besan flour, chilli powder and salt for the rolls, For the gravy tomaotes, onions, ginger garlic paste, turmeric, chilli powder and cashew paste.

Boil and mash the potatoes and keep it aside, grate the cauliflower and saute in oil for few minutes adding salt and chilli powder so that the moisture is gone out completely. Now add the mashed potatoes to it mix it well, add 1 tbsp of besan flour and mix it well until the mixture is not moist and sticky anymore, If it is too sticky you can add more flour.

                               

Now shape the mixture into your desired size and shape. Dust the rolls in besan flour and deep fry it in oil, You can even use maida or cornflour to dust itt, the reason we are doing it because, so that rolls stay bit firm if not it tends to absorb more oil and also can get dispersed once you add it to the hot gravy.

                              

Now comes the gravy part, heat some oil, saute the ginger garlic paste for few minutes and then add the onions once done add the tomatoes and chilli powder, turmeric and salt, cook it until its done, then add the cashew paste and water and bring it to boil.

                               

                                                 Add the rolls once the gravy comes to boil.

                                                       Enjoy it with any kind of bread.