My Dollarama Charging Station

The finished look!

My mom and I went to Dollarama today to pick up a toy for Anoushka the cat. A brief word about Dollarama - the name is very misleading. Nothing costs a dollar anymore. Prices have increased by as much as 300% in some cases, and while that isn't a large sum of money to pay, it is proportionately a huge spike. Nevertheless, to Dollarama we went and as I wandered the unlabelled aisles looking for pet supplies I came upon a tile of fake grass. I recalled a segment of Pure Design in which my favourite designer created a charging station using a simple wooden box. Inspiration struck, and when I eventually located the craft aisle, I was able to procure a wooden tissue box suitable for my project. I didn't find a toy for Anoushka (at least not something she doesn't already have) but here's how I made a simple and attractive charging station to keep my wires tangle-free.

Charging Station (Total cost $4.52 including taxes)

• 1 grass tile ($2.00)
• 1 wooden tissue box with sliding bottom ($2.00)
• a drill to make holes in the tissue box
• green paper (I had some at home)
• good glue
• scissors
• 15 minutes of your time

1 inch hole drilled along the bottom of the length

The first thing I did was to drill two 1 inch holes in the tissue box. Hole #1 goes in the middle of one of the lengths (this will be the back) and hole #2 goes in the middle of the removable bottom of the tissue box (this will actually be the top.)

I cut the green paper to the exact measurements of the removable bottom, and also cut a hole in the same place as hole #2 so that the charging chords could pass through. Then I used a few dabs of glue to stick the green paper onto the removable bottom. 

Maybe it's a toy after all.

With the removable bottom (now covered in green and with a hole in the middle) slid into the box, it was easy for me to determine how much grass to use, so I cut it accordingly. The grass tile had fairly large spaces between the rows of grass so there was no need to cut a hole or pull out of any of the grass inserts. After lining up and cutting, I simply dabbed some glue onto the bottom of the tile and placed in on top of the green removable bottom (now the top.) This way, if you look closely at the charging station, you don't see any wood between the rows of grass - just green. 

I let it dry for about 10 minutes before feeding any wires through the holes, and then set it up in our bedroom. It looks totally awesome. If anyone tries this, please let me know how it works out. You can always make more holes, or make them bigger if you have more wires. Enjoy! 

 

Mung bean! Fun to say, fun to eat.



Moong ki dal ka cheela with Coriander Chutney

I had all but forgotten this recipe until last week when Pranav asked me if I would make cheela for breakfast. These healthy savoury pancakes are a wonderful way to start the day, and they are easily among our favourite breakfast choices. They can be made with any dahl, but my go-to dahl is definitely moong. A note: it would be wise to decide the night before if this will be your breakfast.



Moong Ki Dal ka Cheela (makes approx. 8)

• 1/2 cup split or whole moong dahl (mung beans)
• 1/2 medium onion - chopped
• 1 green chili pepper
• 1/2 inch piece of ginger
• 1/4 tsp whole cumin seeds
• 1/4 tsp red chili powder
• 1/4 tsp turmeric
• salt to taste
• vegetable oil for brushing
• a non-stick pan

The night before, soak the moong dahl in 2 cups of water. When you wake up, the dahl will have doubled in quantity, and will be the right texture for making the cheelas. Empty the water that the dahl has been soaking in, and give it a quick rinse in some clean water. Now blend together all the ingredients to form a batter - dahl, onion, green chili pepper, ginger, cumin seeds, red chili powder, turmeric and salt. You may need to add a little water in order for the elements to blend smoothly, but do this slowly and sparingly so that the batter does not become overly runny.

Now heat the non-stick pan on medium heat, and brush a little vegetable oil onto the centre. Spoon 2 tbsp of the dahl mixture onto the centre of the pan and carefully spread it out to form a pancake about 5 inches in diameter. Use a spatula to carefully lift the edges of the pancake as it cooks. The cheela should not adhere to the non-stick. If it does, then either your batter is too thin, or your non-stick may be too hot. At the correct heat, the first side of the cheela will take approximately 1 minute to cook.

Carefully flip the cheela and allow the other side to cook. This side will take less time. When done, parts of the cheela will have cooked to a beautiful brown crisp but overall, it should be pliable. You can serve the cheelas with any chutney of your choice, or spiced yogurt.

Frittata for one!

We're in the process of moving, again, and so I've been trying to keep the fridge relatively empty. It wasn't until I came across a piece of broccoli, some mushrooms, and two eggs that I remembered one of my favourite solutions for leftovers - frittata. I love a good frittata, because: 1) it's simple and quick to make, and 2) it satisfies my unending craving for eggs. It's lighter than a quiche, yet equally yummy. First thing's first, make sure you have a non-stick pan that can be used in the oven.

Broccoli and Mushroom Frittata (serves 1)

• 2 large eggs
• 1/3 cup broccoli florets
• 1/3 cup sliced cremini mushrooms (or any kind)
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1/2 cup grated medium cheddar cheese- separated
• 1 tsp vegetable oil for cooking
• salt and black pepper to taste

Start by turning your oven on broil. Whisk together the 2 eggs, milk, and half of the cheese. Season this with a dash of salt and pepper to taste, and keep the mixture aside. Heat 1 tsp of vegetable oil in a small non-stick pan on medium-low. Cook the broccoli florets for about 2-3 minutes before adding the mushrooms. Lightly season the vegetables with salt and pepper (keeping in mind that the egg mixture is already seasoned.) Allow the veggies to cook for another 2-3 minutes, or until the mushrooms have developed some colour. Now add the egg mixture to the non-stick. The mixture should cover the vegetables, and evenly fill the pan. Use a spatula, before the eggs set, to move the veggies around so that they're well distributed. When the bottom crust has formed, sprinkle the top of the frittata with the remaining cheese and put it in the oven for 2-3 minutes. The eggs will fully set, and a lovely golden and cheesy crust will have formed on top.

Of course, you can use any of your favourite vegetable combinations and cheese to make a frittata. Mushroom and spinach are very popular, as are tomato, onion, and asparagus. Hope you enjoy!