Tag Archives: M from nepaliaustralian

Newari Gwaramari

Posted on February 23, 2016 | 3 comments

In Kathmandu most of us have happy memories of eating Gwaramari and tea for breakfast during cold winter months.

In Newari “Gwara” means round and “mari” means bread so Gwaramari literally means round bread but to people who have eaten it, it is not just ordinary bread but a very yummy one with a distinct flavour.

I was craving for some Gwaramari for a while so I decided to try making it with a friend. It took us a few attempts to get it right but I am very happy with the end result. It tasted really good.

Ingredients

  • 250 g plain flour
  • 2 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon ground coriander
  • Salt to taste
  • 300 ml water
  • 500ml vegetable oil (for deep-frying)

Method

  • In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, cumin, coriander and salt.

Nepali Gwaramari (2)

  • Add water slowly stirring continuously to make a thick paste.
  • If you have time, cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge overnight otherwise for at least 2 hours.

Nepali Gwaramari (3)

  • In a deep pan, heat the vegetable oil. The oil is hot enough, if you drop small amount of batter and it quickly rises and becomes brown.
  • Once the oil is hot enough, take a table spoon of mixture and place it gently on the hot oil. The dough will puff up and rise to the top of the pan. You can add multiple balls at the same time.

Nepali Gwaramari (4)

  • Fry them until golden brown.
  • Take it out and use paper towel to soak the extra oil.

Nepali Gwaramari (1)

  • It is best served hot with some Masala tea.

Take care everyone,

M from nepaliaustralian

XOXO

3 Comments

Posted in Foodie, Nepali food, Newari Food, Recipe

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Jaulo : Nepali baby food

Posted on November 11, 2015 | 15 comments

Since I started solid food for Chhori, I have given her Jaulo, Nepali rice veggie puree which is high in nutrition and quite filling too. It is so easy to make and versatile that I thought it would be helpful for any mum so I’m sharing the recipe here.

Ingredients

  • 4 table spoon of rice
  • 2 table spoon of red lentils
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 1 tablespoon ghee (clarified butter)(optional)
  • 100 gm of broccoli (replace with any veggie your child likes)
  • Pinch of salt (optional)

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Methods

  • Heat the pressure cooker on medium heat and add ghee. Let it get hot and add turmeric powder.

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  • Wash rice and red lentils.
  • Add the rice, lentils, broccoli and salt to the pressure cooker.

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  • Add 2 cups of water, close the lid and let it cook.
  • Let it press for 5-6 whistles.
  • Once done, check if the rice is soft.

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  • Put the mixture in a blender and make it a fine puree for baby under 7 months and coarse for baby between 7- 10 months. Older kids can be given the jaulo mashed using a spoon.

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  • This can be made with any other veggies or lentils so it will be very versatile options for the baby and easy for the mum.
  • Store in container and can be used up to 3 days when store in the fridge.

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Take care,
M from nepaliaustralian
XOXO

15 Comments

Posted in Being Mum, Recipe

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Nepaliaustralian turns 4!

Posted on September 19, 2015 | 14 comments

On 13 September, 2015 nepaliaustralian turned 4. Being so busy with Father’s Day and Teej, I almost forgot to write the anniversary post.

Anyway better late than never. 🙂 🙂 🙂

When I first started writing, I never imagined than I would be writing a post to celebrate the 4th anniversary of my blog. So much has changed in my life since then and the biggest change is the birth of our daughter, Chhori.

Even though Chhori is taking up most of my time, I am glad to be able to write whenever I can and update everyone with what is happening in my life.

Today the blog has 824 posts, 74 pages, 8701 comments with 1,033,822 page views, 3455 followers and readers from 222 countries visiting my blog. J

So, Thank you!!! Thank you!!! Thank you!!!

Thank you everyone who reads and follows my blog. Thank you everyone for your comments on my posts. Thank you to those who email me with words of encouragement and making me realise that my blog has helped them in some way. I feel blessed to be in the company of all the wonderful human beings who have helped to make my blog what it is today.

nepaliaustralian

I have a virtual cake for all to hand around! Cheers!!!

P.S: To celebrate the occasion like every year, I will be opening the nominations for Nepaliaustralian’s Blog Award 2015 so watch out for my future post.

Take care everyone and Happy weekend!!!

M from nepaliaustralian

XOXO

 

14 Comments

Posted in Celebrations

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Dahi Chiura Ceremony

Posted on February 19, 2015 | 14 comments

As I mentioned in my previous post, I had my baby shower but I was waiting for my parents to arrive from Nepal to do a traditional baby shower, also known as Dahi chiura ceremony in Nepali or Dhau-baji in Newari.

In this ceremony, the mother-to-be’s family comes to feed Dhau-baji (yogurt and flattened/beaten rice) and brings Sagun and lots of food along with gifts for the mother-to-be as well as the unborn baby.

My parents have arrived in Sydney now so I am extremely happy as I will have a helping hand to look after the little one for the first few months. I could not imagine how I would have managed if they were not here.

Last weekend, my parents along with the help of my brother and SIL organised the Dahi Chiura ceremony. It was a traditional ceremony with the ladies all wearing saris.

Dhai Chiura (14)

My mum made Yomari and sagun (bara, boiled eggs, chicken and fish) for the occasion and bought some sweets, fruits and cakes as well. They also bought clothes for me along with jewelleries as well as things for little one.

Dhai Chiura (5) Dhai Chiura (4) Dhai Chiura (3) Dhai Chiura (1)

It was a family affair with just me, AS, my parents, brother, SIL and my little nephew.

Dhai Chiura (15) Dhai Chiura (2)

For the ceremony, my mum followed the followings steps, if anyone wants to know. It might be different for different cultures but I believe the basic will remain the same.

Dhai Chiura (6) Dhai Chiura (7)

  • The ritual started with my mother worshipping Lord Ganesh in the Sukanda. She put tika made of vermillion, rice and yogurt and flowers on Lord Ganesh..
  • Then she put tika for me and AS.
  • Then she gave us the gifts of fruits, sweets, clothes, and jewelleries.
  • This was followed by Sagun and then the main event of dahi chiura, where everyone feeds me dahi chiura.
  • Everyone was given Sagun and sweet as well after this.
  • Thus the main event of dahi chiura is was conclude.
  • Cake is normally not a traditional inclusion for dahi chiura but we had one so I and AS cut the cake together

Dahi Chiura (12) Dahi Chiura (13) Dahi Chiura (16)

For many reasons, the dahi chiura ceremony is one of my favourite celebrations for our coming daughter.

Dahi Chiura (9) Dahi Chiura (10) Dahi Chiura (11)

In addition to normal family dahi chiura, the pregnant mother is often invited by her relatives to eat meals with them. I had invited many of my family and friends who were pregnant to my place and done the same ceremony so it is my turn to be invited to my close friends and family’s place for the dahi chiura ceremony as well.

It was really nice of all of them to get involved making me and the baby feel special. Here are some of the pics from various occasions of dahi chiura. I was spoiled with lots of blessings, yummy foods and lots of useful gifts .

Dahi Chiura (18)

I am so glad that we are keeping Nepali traditional alive living so far from home and I want to show all these photos to my daughter one day and explain the traditions and culture.

Hope you enjoyed the traditional way of Nepali/Newari baby shower.

Take care,

M from nepaliaustralian

XOXO 

14 Comments

Posted in My pregnancy, Nepali Culture, Nepali food, Newari Culture, Newari Food

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Rubbing a pregnant woman’s belly

Posted on February 16, 2015 | 12 comments

I think except for a very few times (only to close family member/friends), was I tempted to rub a pregnant woman’s tummy but for some weird reason many family, friends, even strangers felt the need to pat, rub or touch my expanding belly .

I love when my husband touches my tummy because that is the only way he can have contact with our daughter right now. Whenever she  kicked or moved especially the first few times I was so excited and I ask him to feel that with me. Seriously, those moments were priceless when we both felt the baby’s movement at the same time.

Most of the time I don’t mind my friends and family touching my tummy especially if they ask for permission first, but I have a big problem with strangers doing it.

I have to admit though that I was never approached by a stranger on the street who uninvited, just felt that they could touch my pregnant belly. I am not entirely sure what my reaction would have been had they tried. I always felt a little bit special during pregnancy as I mention before, as people were kinder, they would strike up a conversation with me, just give me a knowing smile. It is a serene time in many ways.

 I would feel very scared and worried if a strange asked if it is ok to touch my tummy. I might be OK if the stranger is a woman but men, definitely a big NO NO.

What is it about a pregnant woman’s belly that makes the common sense rules of personal space fly out the window?

May be I should get one of these t-shirts.

I really think it is a personal choice if you feel good when someone rubs your pregnant tummy. We all have different limits we feel as our own personal space. Some feel violated if their pregnant belly is touched, others welcome and love it. For me I am in the middle. As long as it is not too much, I really don’t mind.

Where do you stand on this matter? Do share your experience regarding this.

Take care,

M from nepaliaustralian

XOXO 

12 Comments

Posted in My pregnancy

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