I don’t know how to grow plants. I can’t grow plants.
We never know what we get into, until we are handed a tiny little bundle with just the face peaking, eyes stuck together with some liquid, flushed pink face, and a blue striped or pink striped cap. We feel an overwhelming sense of joy, a chilling and warm feeling. Tears swell up and the first smile you give your tiny baby is filled with so much joy and love (and oxytocin, as my teen adds). It’s a feeling that has never crept up until then, and will never go away.
As we try to buckle our kid in the car, the first thing that comes to mind is, “Are we hurting the baby?” If we didn’t get honks that day driving back home with a newborn, it would be a miracle. We were ten bars under speed limit.
With the first cry and rushing up a flight of stairs just to see a calm cooing baby, you realize the baby monitor is just too sensitive, and even picks up the neighbors lawn mower. The first time when they shock you by rolling and come near the kitchen, you just run to the nearest hardware store and baby proof everything. Folding clothes is a task. If you love it, it will take longer, if you don’t like it, you will have a craaazy time. They love to roll around in the pile of the clothes, get into the dryer, scaring the heck out of you. Clothes folding that took ten minutes takes three days.
The days when you just want to throw a pillow tightly over your ears so you don’t want to wake up at 2.00 am to feed, and scream at your hubby, “You do it!”
Why doesn’t he eat, doctor? Why is he not gaining weight? When will he talk, when will he start reading? Why did he get glasses, is it my mistake? Why does he complain of knee pains?
Questions, and more questions.
I couldn’t imagine going through life without feeling that spectrum of emotion.
We get through all that and there comes a day, they walk by a succulent (the plant) and look at you and say, MOM YOU CAN DO IT. Let’s get it. I know you are going to take good care of it, it is not going to die.
Yes, I did it. I didn’t know if I could do it, a question I asked all the way driving back home with a tiny baby from the hospital.
Feeling it all, good or bad, gives my life purpose. Motherhood is walking around with all of your nerve endings raw and exposed. It is the most extreme measure of being alive.
I couldn’t skip talking about my mom, who taught me all these raitas.
She made sure I got in healthy stuff and always served roti with one or the other raita. Her raitas are very popular among our family and friends.
I’m sharing a meal my mom and I share a lot when I visit her. A person who loves to feed me healthy, and a lady who loves to feed us. So here are three raitas/yogurt sides. All of this can be eaten as a light salad or meal. Serve it with some rice, or roti, and it is perfect.
So here’s to all Moms out there. You are the BEST! I’d love love to hear anything fun, any experience you want to share.
Cheers and HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!! LOVE AND HUGS!
xoxo
Asha
- 1 cup thick low fat yogurt whipped
- 1 beet. Peeled and grated finely
- 2 green chillies grated to a paste
- ⅓ tsp salt
- 1 tsp sugar
- ½ tsp oil
- ½ inch mango ginger thinly sliced
- pinch of asafoetida
- pinch of turmeric
- ⅓ tsp cumin
- ⅓ tsp tiny mustard
- 1 cup low fat yogurt(not the greek kind). whipped
- 1 large carrot peeled and grated finely
- 3 tbsp dill finely chopped
- 1 ripe yellow mango, peeled and diced very small
- 1 green chillie grated finely
- ⅓ tsp salt
- ½ tsp toasted cumin powder
- 1 cup full fat yogurt whipped nicely
- 1 cucumber grated
- 1 onion thinly sliced lengthwise
- 1 tomato diced
- 2 green chilly, slit in the middle and left whole
- ⅓ tsp salt
- 1 tsp sugar
- Whip the yogurt and add the grated beet in it with the green chilies, salt and sugar. Mix well and set inside the refrigerator until it's ready to be served.
- In a small pan add the oil, add the mango ginger, asafoetida, mustard, cumin, turmeric and curry leaves. Once it pops, add it to the Beet and yogurt mix and serve immediately. This goes great with rotis or naan.
- Whip the yogurt in a bowl. Add the grated raw carrots, finely chopped dill, and mango. Mix well, add the salt and green chilli and the toasted cumin seeds. Mix well and serve immediately or keep it chilled until serving. Serve with Stuffed parathas or a spicy tomato or egg pulao.
- Peel and Grate the cucumber and leave it in the bowl for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, you will see a lot of water from the cucumber. Squeeze out all the water and keep it aside for something else or throw it.
- In that add the onion, tomato, green chili, salt, sugar and the yogurt. Use clean hands to massage everything together well. This raita is not too water, it is a bit on the thick side. Serve with Biryani, it is perfect.
What a beautifully written piece! So much that our mothers do for us, always concerned and worried and loving, wanting the best for us. I can’t wait to experience that one day– Happy early Mother’s Day to you, Asha! <3
Thanks so much Minna. I know for sure, you are going to be one fabulous mom when that precious day comes.
Hugs.
Love your post Asha! So beautifully written! It is so true, all that you said, the first moment when you see your newborn is the most precious moment that I will never forget! and you just basically learn as you go! Love all the 3 raitas, esp the mango addition :). Moms are the best! Happy Mother’s Day Asha! You are such an inspiration to me and I hope I can raise my kids like you! 🙂
Thanks Amisha. You are such a fabulous mom, keep being awesome. Yes, life just changes after that moment:).
You’ve been so supportive, thanks a bunch. xoxo.
Such a wonderful write-up, as always, Asha! You are a wonderful mother, so humble, and so strong. Enjoy your day with your boys… they are adorable. These raitas are brilliant.. mums’ recipes are totally the best kind and your post preciously expresses it. Happy Mother’s Day to you, Ash! Xx
Thank you so much my lovely friend. You definitely want me to keep writing and your motivating words makes me so happy. I try, I guess we all try. Thank you and I can’t wait to relax this weekend.
Sending you tons of hugs and have a gorgeous weekend my dear.
xoxo
Oh dearest Ash. How I relate to this. How every moment is so filled with joy because you have them and how at the same time your heart is gripped with fear of doing harm or someone else harming them. I have tears in my eyes as I read this, because of how full circle life has come. I love your moms raitas. Happy mother’s day my dear friend.
So very true. Fear and love both in the same sentence. Life definitely is a circle, circle of life. You are a fabulous mom and I know your baby girl has planned something very very special for you darling. You deserve the best. Happy Mother’s day.
xoxo
So lovely, Asha …… my mind was going into a flashback mode reliving all those moments you described!!! Happy Mother’s Day to you and the raitas look lovely and am sure taste fabulous!
Story of moms. Those precious days. Thanks for stopping by and for your encouraging words always Bina.
xoxo
I could relate to every word of this post. So beautifully articulated Asha. Life throws challenges and ‘doubt’ , ‘fear of the unknown’ is the most initial emotion ..and it takes time to absorb the moment !
So glad to have found a positive and encouraging friend like you ! Hugs and Happy Mother’s Day to you !
Uma, that is so true, fear of the unknown.
Thankful for such a positive friend, a great chef, a beautiful person in my life. Thanks for you support always. May you be showered with the best this weekend and every day.
xoxo
So beautiful, so true. That feeling is magical, overwhelming and absolutely unforgettable. Happy Mother’s Day Asha Di!
Also you know what a sucker I am for dahi… everything looks slurp worthy 😉
You are such a lovely mom my dear. I always smile when you and your cuteness are together. Big hugs and I know you’ll love this. Hugs and enjoy your special weekend.
xoxo
What a lovely story as usual. Happy mother’s day and enjoy with your adorable sons.
Oh, thanks my dear mom. Wish you could be here too, we would have such a wonderful time. Big hugs.
xoxo
Hi Asha,
Such a touching well-written post Asha! You took me back to my past and I re-lived those moments of my first child-birth:) You are such a positive inspiration and your boys are so lucky! I am so glad to find you on Instagram:) Have a fabulous Mothers Day weekend! Sending you hugs. I can’t wait to checkout snapchat to see what your boys are baking for you:)
Hi Swarna, Thanks so much for following and I absolutely love your feedback. Thanks you for being so kind. I’m sure your weekend is going to be a great one. Happy Mothers day lovely. What is your Insta handle?
Take care.
xx
I am @amlu2707 on Insta but not very active! By the way wonderful pictures as usual and those white flowers are amazing! 🙂
A beautifully written post, Asha. Not really quite sure what Raita is…is it dip in English? The one with beet is my favourite.
Happy Mother’s Day, Asha! You are a very special lady and I hope your day is filled with great joy and love. You are also a fabulous mom…your boys are very blessed, no doubt. 🙂 Motherhood was not in the cards for me. 🙁 However, I feel a great sense of happiness and joy when close friends and family share their fond and funny stories of being a mom. Once again, your food photography and styling inspires. Thank you for sharing! xo
Love raita. Gorgeous colors. Looks so pretty.
Happy Mother’s Day Asha. Your kiddos are lucky to have a mom like you from who is such an inspiration to many. And your mom must be super proud. Love raita and love the different variations you have listed out. Hope you have a great day Asha.
Happy Mother’s Day, Asha!
And to your mom too 🙂
My favourite is the traditional cucumber tomato raita 🙂
but these all look so wonderful, I’ll have to try them.
Nice words from a mom’s point of view. XOGREG
Look absolutely delicious Asha ! I hav eto try soon <3 <3
I really agree with you about motherhood. It just intensifies everything…and it does does surely make you feel alive! ; ) And thanks for sharing these raita recipes. It’s fun to learn about different variations. Hope you had a great weekend!
I loved reading this Asha. I’m not a mother, so I wouldn’t know this, but I can only imagine how my mom felt raising three little ones, part of that time on her own, and raw awareness that comes with this responsibility. The emotions and feelings run the spectrum of extremes. And these delicious raitas.. thank you for sharing your and your Mom’s secrets with us for delicious, colorful food. I learn so much from you my dear! I hope your weekend was memorable and delicious.. xo
This post Asha… so good… so true… so spot on! I could relate to so many things and guess what, I suck at gardening. Killed several plants so far. Arvind says, I should probably start with cactus LOL
I am up for anything with yogurt and these raitas look stunning!
Beautiful sentiments, beautiful photos, beautiful recipes. Wonderful post Asha!!! I hope you had a wonderful Mother’s Day!! xoxo
Such a lovely post! So you. And I love raita, so the food part was good, too. 🙂 Thanks!
I love raita and I can’t wait to try all these versions!
I also loved reading your post, heartwarming.
Loved your post. And those raitas look absolutely stunning… Now I’m hungry. 🙂
What a beautiful post! I love the pictures too. They’re so beautifully moody 😀 And as a big raita fan I love the three recipes.
Asha, these are all gorgeous! My favorite in the Mango carrot dill, what fantastic flavors! absolutely love this!
How beautiful are all three recipes! loved them all and I guess I will try the mango n dill soon
Boy and I can’t have children… so I will never know exactly what you wrote so beautifully about, but you did touch my heart with your words!! But, I do have a neice and nephew who I spoil rotten, so at least I have that, right?! Anyways, You always have the most eloquent posts, Asha, and this one is no different! 😉 I love raitas, but I have never had one as delicious as these!! Clearly your mom is one fabulous lady, both in and out of the kitchen!! Loving all 3 of these flavors and I can’t wait to try them each! Cheers, dear friend! xo
Happy belated mother’s day, Asha! I hope you had a wonderful day and thanks for sharing these delightfully delicious and gorgeous raitas – while I am mesmerized by them all, that beet one is my all time favorite!