Cabbage Stir Fry Recipe
This cabbage stir fry recipe is one of the best and simple side dishes you could whip up on a busy night! It's full of Indian flavors and you get a bite of freshness each time!
Need a little mid-week dinner inspiration?
Growing up, I used to hate cabbage! I mean seriously was there anything worse than coming home to your mom whipping up a plate of cabbage.... Nope. It was awful.Fast forward about 30 years and now it's one of my favorite Indian side dishes! If you need any convincing that this is indeed a delicious vegetarian side dish, MY KIDS ARE OBSESSED! They love having this to pair with KEEMA CURRY during the week. It adds a bit of crunch to the meal and lightens a dense meal.Still don't believe me? My super duper extra picky husband even likes it! Now, I don't think I will be converting my family to vegetarians anytime soon, but serve this with a tasty Indian main dish and you have one happy family! [amd-yrecipe-recipe:46]
A Quick And Easy Dinner- Chana Masala
People tend to have quite a few crazy ideas about Indian food. They think it all tastes the same and takes days to make to start off with... Well, this mom of 3 (about to be 4!!!) is all about quick and easy. I need recipes that make my life easier!Today, I'm showing you a simple vegetarian dish that will make your bellies thank me!All you need is a few ingredients and you're off! It hardly takes anytime at all! You can serve it alone with a chapati or serve up some Karahi Chicken with it! Guess what... It's even kid approved!Heat the butter over medium heat. When the butter has melted add in your onions and jalapeño.
When these have browned add in your ginger garlic paste. Cook for 1-2 minutes. Add in your coriander, cumin, and turmeric. Allow these to cook together for another 1-2 minutes.
Stir in your tomato and cook for five minutes.
Add in your potatoes, chickpeas, and water. Turn up the heat to medium/high heat. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer.
Sprinkle in the garam masala, salt, and squeeze in your lemon juice. Allow all of the ingredients to simmer until the potatoes are tender.
Serve with rice or next to another one of your favorite Indian main dishes.
[ If you like this, you'll love my Karahi Chicken Recipe ]
How To Challenge Racism And Prejudice As A Family
Over the last eight years in my interracial marriage, my eyes have been open up to a new world.
I had no idea how sheltered I was in my own little bubble. I grew up in a white community, with a white family, and white friends.I loved everyone I met, so it wasn't an issue of any ill-feelings on my part. I simply didn't know a life outside my own. I never learned about cultures around the world other than the little bit they teach us in history class.It wasn't until I married my wonderful husband that I saw the harsh reality that racism exists. The fact that an entire people group could be stereotyped as one personality or one characteristic of an extremist. It's easier for society to clump people together rather than get to know the actual people involved.Even though you may have the same ethnic background as someone, by no way means your culture was the exact same growing up. Our culture is so much more than just our ethnicity. It's the way you grew up, your beliefs, whether or not you were the oldest in the family, the situations you've experienced, and everything that has shaped you to be the person you are today.
Racism and prejudice aren't hidden from society. It's out in the open every day.
We see it in the news.We see if when we walking in town and someone crosses the street just to avoid walking next to a man of color.We see it when people make a rude, stereotypical joke to a friend.We see it when people spew hateful, toxic things to people they've never even met.It's happening every day, all around you. Here's the problem. People either give excuses to why they did what they did or claim they didn't know any better. We're no longer living in a day and age where those excuses work. We are fighting for a better world for our kids. This fight means we have to stand up and say this is not ok. We have to challenge wrong thinking and start learning about those around us.
Let's start by learning a few definitions.
Racism: prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior.Prejudice: preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience.Ignorance: lack of knowledge or information.Racism and prejudice are both learned behaviors. Through out our lives people have shaped what we believe. Maybe you grew up in a family that made racist remarks. Or maybe they lived in their bubble like I did growing up and didn't know better.
Either way, ignorance leads to both racism and prejudice.
So how can we stop it? What can we do to make sure our kids don't learn this hate?We can teach our kids. It starts as simple as that. We can help them to have a deep love for cultures around the world. We can remind them to ask questions when they don't know something rather than lay a stereotypical label on it.Remember, kids learn by example. You need to be the right example to them and challenge yourself. If you mess up, admit it to them and have a conversation about it. If you see someone in their life, whether it's a family member or someone in the media, call out bad behavior. Don't ignore it when it happens. If you do, your kids will be left trying to figure it out on their own.
How can you challenge racism, prejudice, and ignorance around you?
Interracial Couples: My In-Laws Won't Accept Me
Do you remember the first few months of your relationship? It was exciting!Everything was new.You were just getting to know your partner and all the feelings you were experiencing for each other were new. You spent all of your time together because you wanted to get to know what made them tick. You wanted to know what it was about them that was making you fall so hard.As your relationship progressed, it changed from living in your own little world together, to branching out. Now, it was time to meet his friends, his loved ones, and of course... his parents.You wanted nothing more than for them to love you because deep down you knew your relationship would last. However, your fears started to make their way to the surface. You started to wonder what they would think about you.Would they love you?
Would they accept you into their family?
We've all experienced this part differently. Some of you have been welcomed in happily and with open arms. Sadly some of you have experienced something much different, much more painful.Instead of feeling completely loved by your new family, you may have faced a harsh reality of being unaccepted. You spent your time worrying about the impression you would make, but they wouldn't even let you get there.They wouldn't give you a chance.What do you do if your new in-laws won't even give you an opportunity to make a bad impression?I've talked to many couples who are facing this situation. Some of them are facing in-laws who won't even talk to them, some partners won't even introduce them because they "know" what their parents will say, some face hostility at every family get together, and sadly they all hurt.
Every one of these situations makes someone feel inadequate.
If this is you, you know the feeling very well. You started off your relationship feeling madly in love and now you wonder if you're enough.Are you enough for him and his family?Should you keep trying?Should you let the relationship go and stop trying?You may think you know exactly what you would do, but you never know. The world tells you to fight for love, to stand up against all odds to hold onto it.Sadly, insecurities are painful. It's not as easy as ignoring it or letting it roll off. If this is you, I have one thing to tell you.You are enough.You are more than enough and love is worth fighting for.Some people get stuck completely stuck in old ideas. They think a relationship has to be between two people who look and behave the same. As a woman who's in an interracial relationship I know, that's not true.
Love comes in all shapes and sizes.
Don't stop fighting. As a couple, you need to hold onto each other for strength and keep walking forward. Don't let someone else tell you who you should love.Your in-laws have a choice. They can accept you for who you are and how happy you've made their child or they can choose to not be a part of your life. It's on them. You can't change them or make them think anything they don't want to and that's okay.You are making a difference. You're showing other interracial couples out there that it's worth the fight. The Loving's taught all of us what that fight can accomplish.We have an opportunity to fight fiercely for change so our kids have more opportunities than we did.Be the change you hope to see in the world. Don't give up.
4 Things To Do When You're Overwhelmed
My husband and I have been married for six years. We have packed those years full of beautiful memories, early mornings, teething babies, first homes, ridiculous arguments, big moves, tearful goodbyes, nights on the town, and so much fun. We knew we had a big adventure in store, but there was so much we didn't anticipate. If I could go back in time, there is a lot I would have told my 20 year old self about.
I would have warned myself...
to never let my children sleep in my bed because it would create a habit that would mean they would climb into my bed every single night at midnight for years to come...about the reactions some people may have when telling them about my intercultural relationship...that my husband will always try to diffuse arguments by trying to make me laugh...about the nights my husband and I would spend in the hospital after our baby had a seizure...to always use a timer when cooking so I wouldn't burn dinner... and to NEVER use American versions of Indian recipes because they will ALWAYS end up horrible. While we were dating, we anticipated all of the beautiful and life changing moments we would have together, but didn't think about the struggles we could face. The reality is that the hard times in our marriage have brought us even closer than the good times. They remind us that we are in this together and that with each other, we can handle anything. What about the hard times that feel overwhelming? It's easier to look back on the situation and see what good came from it, but what about when you're in the middle of it? I received an email from a reader recently and she was in the middle of a really hard season with her spouse. I asked her if I could share a bit about her story because I think so many of us can relate. They have been married for three years and they'e in the midst of figuring out how they can blend cultures in their marriage. They recently moved to India and she's feeling overwhelmed in a new city, surrounded by a new language, homesick, and feeling like her and her spouse can't agree on anything. She's happy with their decision to move, but is overwhelmed trying to make this transition, feel at home in India, and trying to blend their cultures in their new family. While you may not be in a new country like this reader, I'm sure many of you share similar struggles. Maybe you're spouse speaks a different language and you feel left when his family comes to visit because you don't understand what they're saying. Maybe most of the conversations between you and your spouse end in fighting because you can't agree on how to blend cultures. Either way that overwhelming feeling can be suffocating.I get it. It can feel like it will never end.
Here are 4 things you can do when you're overwhelmed in your relationship.
Take a deep breath.
Sometimes you just need to take a deep breath. When you're overwhelmed, you tend to focus on it all day. Instead, take a minute and remind yourself it will be ok. It may be really difficult right now, but it won't last forever. [tweetthis twitter_handles="@almstindianwife" display_mode="box"]When life gets overwhelming, take a deep breath and remember it won't last forever.[/tweetthis]
Get away.
Take a break from the situation. Don't let your struggles take over your life. Take some time to yourself and do something relaxing. This can be getting a coffee and reading a good book, taking a walk, or maybe even going to see a movie by yourself. You won't be able to make any progress on the situation is you're drained and exhausted. It's so important to step outside of the situation so you can regroup and come back to it refreshed. [tweetthis display_mode="box"]When life gets overwhelming, take a break and can come back refreshed & able to face the challenge[/tweetthis]
Date your spouse.
Marriage requires a lot of work. Don't lose sight of why you and your spouse were married in the first place. You'll experience struggles through out your marriage and there's nothing you can do to stop it. Often times, couples grow distant from each other in the midst of trouble. Just because you're fighting or going through a hard season doesn't mean you shouldn't love on your spouse. Decide together to put your difficult situation on pause and go out to dinner or a movie. You can deal with the situation when you get back. Just like the step before, it's good to take a break from the situation and regroup. You and your spouse need to remind each other that you're going through these struggles so you can face this struggle together. [tweetthis display_mode="box"]Just because you're having struggles in your marriage doesn't mean you shouldn't date your husband[/tweetthis]
Take it day by day.
Sadly, your problems usually won't be solved in a day. It takes time to figure out how to blend cultures, to feel at home in a new environment, etc. All you can do is take it day by day. Look at the progress you're making. Even the smallest amount of progress is a HUGE step forward. [tweetthis display_mode="box"]When you're facing a challenge, remember any progress is a HUGE step forward! Celebrate all successes![/tweetthis]
How Can You Use Education And Laughter Against Ignorance?
There was an article that made it's way around Facebook a few months ago. A friend of ours had shared it with my husband, Joel and it went viral! So many people could relate to the hilarious questions people ask. When people find out my husband is East Indian, they tend to ask him a lot of questions. Most of the time, the questions are simply... ridiculous. My favorite question people have asked me about my husband is, "Does he speak Indian?"I truly hope I have at least taught most of you at least a few things about Indian culture. At least enough to know that no one speaks Indian, rather one of the hundreds of dialects found in India. Joel speaks Telugu. I used to ignore people's mistake and answer their question, pretending they said the right thing. Now, I just laugh. It would be like me walking into a room of people and asking someone if they spoke American. We've seen the same things with our kids. People are already asking us hilarious questions about our mixed kids. It's funny to think about the questions our boys will have to answer through out their lives. Some of them will be funny like this and others will be insulting. I want my husband and I to raise our kids to respond well, regardless of what people do or say. We can't control what people do, but we can control our response.
[tweetthis twitter_handles="@almstindianwife" display_mode="box"]"Two things reduce prejudice: education and laughter." -Laurence J. Peter[/tweetthis]
Culture Clash Wednesday #10 The Help
(Picture Credit Stock Snap)
If you stop by my house unannounced, you will be walking into a huge mess. I have three boys which means they love leaving little messes everywhere they go. It doesn't matter how many times I do the dishes, sweep the floor, or put toys away.. I turn around and it's all messy again. I've come to terms with it and now that my youngest is about to start walking, it's only going to get worse!Often times, I complain to my husband about the house. I sit there, staring at the crayon on the walls, asking how in the world the house can get messy as quickly as it does. Usually, he asks me what I need help with and we get it done together. Recently, a family member said we should hire someone to clean the house. I was taken back because I didn't quite know what to think. Were they insulting my messy house? My husband didn't seem to think it was a bad idea. Now, before you all pick up your pitchforks and chase down my husband, hear me out. My husband grew up with his family hiring people to clean the house all the time. Both of his parents worked full time and were extremely busy. They hired someone to come once a week or so and they did all of the deep cleaning. His family was used to having someone help with the house because that's how it was for them in India as well. In Hyderabad, where they grew up, they had people that helped with the cooking, gardening, and cleaning. While I don't think there is anything wrong with either way, the idea of hiring someone to clean my house is foreign to me. Growing up, it was my family and I who always took care of everything. We all had a list of chores and got it done. I wouldn't even know what to do if I hired someone to clean my house. Would I stay while they cleaned? Awkwardly pretend I have somewhere to go?Granted, a spotless house would be nice to come home to...This is yet another way of doing things that differ in each family, regardless of where you grew up. While it is extremely common in India to hire help, it's the same for many families in the US. I have a lot of friends who hire people to help out and say it's the only thing that keeps them sane. Others couldn't imagine letting someone clean their messy house and do it themselves. At the end of the day, we all do what we can to get through the day. If it would help your week be a little less stressful and you have the money in your budget, hire someone to help! If you would rather clean your house yourself, do it!If you'd rather sit back, watch Netflix, and leave the dishes for another day.. DO IT!
While this is a culture clash moment for my husband and I, it may not be for you. I'd love to hear from you. Would this be a culture clash moment in your house?
Culture Clash Wednesday #8 Taste Buds
Last week, I offered three more entries into my Ultimate Spice Giveaway by taking a survey (only a few more days to enter!). This survey helps me see what all of you have enjoyed on my blog and what you want to see more of. There was a HUGE consensus.... You all love culture clash Wednesdays!! I'm so glad you are all enjoying because it has been such a fun series!This week were talking about taste buds. I think many of you will be able to relate to this one.. Food is one of the biggest passions in our house. This could be because we have an almost Indian family or because it's full of boys. I've always heard the way to a boys heart is through his stomach and I can tell you it's the same for Indians! We're always experimenting and trying new dishes! However, a problem always comes up... Can you guess what it is?? My husband and I can never agree if it's too spicy or too bland! Usually, I will love a dish and he says it's a little bland and needs more heat. On the other hand, he will have a dish and love it. All while I'm sweating bullets because it's so freaking spicy! Now, our kids are joining in on the fight. Liam thinks pepper is too spicy and Levi can handle his spicy food. This is probably why my husband loves visiting his family. It's typically a weekend full of spicy Indian food. My first few years in the family, I would get teased because I'd always have a glass of milk with dinner! I'd get the biggest glass possible because I knew how ridiculously spicy everything was going to be! It's been six years now and I never pour a glass of milk with dinner. Is this because I'm almost Indian and can handle my Indian food or is it because my pride kicked in and I won't ever let them know how badly my mouth is on fire? The world will never know... For the most part, we all love spicy food. It's just the level of heat we don't agree on. We've learned a few tricks over the years to make sure we're all in love with dinner. We've all trained our taste buds to handle some heat. We serve dinner and all sit down at the dinner table. If you look at our table, we will always have multiple kinds of hot sauce. We have hot sauce for every type of food we make too! We have hot pickled vegetables for Indian food, Cholula for Mexican food, and Sriracha for Asian food. This way we can all add the right amount of spice and I don't die from it!
Do you experience this in your house? Are you the one that likes heat?
How Can You Teach Your Children About Diwali
Lately, most of our mornings have started extremely slowly. We wake up, I make my iced coffee, the kids eat oatmeal, and we drudge over to the school table and get started. I'm blaming this on the the blustery grey weather we've been having. It just makes you want to curl up in bed with Netflix or a good book. Today, started much differently. Yesterday, I gave my kids a sneak peak of our new Festive Roots box. They couldn't wait to open it and explore this morning! They woke up and ran straight to the school table, begging to begin for the day.Festive Roots is a fantastic company with the goal to teach kids about different cultures!! They sent us their Diwali Trunk and we couldn't wait to check it out! If it can get my kids to beg me to start school so they can dig in, I'd say this product is perfect for all of you! 
As soon as we opened the box, bright orange confetti spilled out. My kids thought it was Christmas! The Diwali Trunk is filled with three separate crafts to teach your children all about this special holiday! Diwali is also known as The Festival of Lights. These trunks are a brilliant way to show your children the different festivals that occur in India. Each craft comes with all of the supplies needed and super easy to follow instructions. My kids loved getting their hands dirty and creating these beautiful crafts. Teaching your children about different cultures and holidays through hands on experiences is a guaranteed way for them to learn! My boys were on the edge of the seat the whole time. They couldn't wait to start each craft and for me to explain what Diwali is all about. 
If you're looking for a simple way to teach your children about the world, this is it! Festive Roots offers a one time purchase or a subscription. We are definitely going to sign up for the yearly subscription. It will teach my boys about four different festivals and I won't have to come up with the crafts on my own! I'm definitely not a crafty person and I love how beautiful and easy these are!Be sure to check them out today! Diwali is right around the corner and this is the way to teach your family about The Festival of Lights!Use the coupon code AIFDiwali and get $5 off your order!Make sure you LIKE their Facebook page so you can stay updated on new promotions!
*This post has been sponsored by Festive Roots. All opinions are my own.*
Culture Clash Wednesday #7 Style Norms
It's the middle of the week! Do you know what that means? It's culture clash Wednesday! The day I share an awkward, fun, or uncomfortable moment with all of you! Today's will make you a little angry. My family and I recently attended a wedding for a family member. We were all excited for the opportunity to dress up in Indian garb for the event. We have boxes and boxes of the stuff and jump on any chance to put them on. Especially the kids because they call them their handsome clothes!The reception was held in a huge building. There were multiple other parties going on and a restaurant downstairs. At one point, my two year old said he needed to go potty. I grabbed him and we started to walk towards the restrooms. After we left the room our party was in, we noticed a couple from another party. They were talking to each other and then they saw my son and I. The moment they saw us, they stopped talking and stared. Now, I don't mean just looked at us, I mean stared! They looked us up and down and continued while we walked across the room. The didn't say a word.After we walked passed, our backs to them, they started laughing and pointing....I turned around to look at them and couldn't believe it. They were laughing at my son and I. They were clearly pointing at our outfits and laughing. I understand that seeing people in clothing other than what you're used to can be different, but to mock and laugh... I quickly took my son to the bathroom because I didn't want him to know what was happening. I have been thinking about this moment all week. A large part of me wishes I would have stopped and said something. Are we offending you somehow? Do our clothes bother you? Do you enjoy laughing at a mother and her child? It's easy for people to have snap judgements when they see something foreign to them. Instead of being open to new things, they get stuck on the fact that it breaks a norm they have lived within. The couple laughed at my son and I because we broke a style norm for them. We weren't wearing American clothes for the wedding and this baffled them.As this moment continues to stir up emotions within myself, I realize it's a great teaching opportunity for my kids. I don't want my kids to fear wearing Indian clothes in fear of someone's response. I want them to be proud of their culture and strut down the hall wearing their little Indian suits with all the pride in the world. We have to challenge this type of response in people. Instead of getting stuck in our rage we need to work towards change. We need to challenge their ignorance and expose the world to a new way of doing things.
Have you experienced a similar situation? How would you have responded that you think could cause change.
Let's Teach Our Kids About The World With Bhumroo Kids!
This post is sponsered by Bhumroo Kids.
Since I've been a parent, I've realized more than ever that we need to teach our kids about the world around them. My husband and I are working really hard to teach our children about Indian and American culture. They are constantly exposed to American culture as they walk outside, go out to dinner, play at the park, etc. It's been more difficult to expose them to Indian culture.
We ended up making a big decision as a family and moved across the United States to get closer to my husband's side of the family. This meant our children would be around Indian culture much more often. Since we've been here they are starting to learn Telugu, Indian customs, eating more Indian food, going to Indian events, and so on.
We're always looking for new ways to teach them about Indian culture. I'm always looking out for good Bollywood movies, popular music in Telugu, and children's books about India. It's been a lot harder than I expected. Then I stumbled upon my new favorite company, Bhumroo Kids. It's an amazing company with the sole purpose of teaching kids about their own culture and the world around them.
Their first product is teaching kids about... can you guess.... INDIA. My kids were happy to try it out!
Each box comes with an activity book, materials to make an animal with beautiful Indian fabric, a children's book, a memory game, Bollywood music, and a poster coloring page. Each item is meant to teach you and your children more about India.
Today, we decided to take a little break from our regular homeschool routine and explored our new Bhumroo Kid's box!Liam and Levi loved glueing on the fabric to their animal wall hangers. There was even some fun information about the animals on each page. 
Liam's favorite was the activity book. He has been obsessed with mazes and their happened to be one inside! The activity book was great because it talked about different outfits worn in India, types of dances performed, and had fun games! 
Liam and Levi loved seeing where their family in India lives. They couldn't believe just how far it is from our little house in the Midwest. Mommy, I don't think we should drive there because it would take way too long!Yes, Liam you're right! If you're interested in teaching your children about the world, this company is perfect for you. They currently have their beautiful India box and will come out with more! It's vital that we teach our children about the world they live in. It will help them to accept their own culture and different cultures around them. If you're interested you can find out more information here.
Be sure to follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest too!
What Is It Like To Be A Second Generation Indian?
As the first one out of my husband's siblings to get married, we had a lot of things to figure out. My husband is a second generation East Indian. If you're a little confused on the first, second generation thing, it just means his parents immigrated to the US and he was born here. He was actually born very soon after his parents moved to the US. He has spent time in India, where his family was born, throughout his life. He lived there for a few years as a child and has also spent summers there. 
As a second generation Indian, he has had to figure out how to make sure Indian culture is very present in his own life. Luckily, his family has made that very possible for him. His parents grew up in India so they raised their children in Indian culture, while in the US.His parent's first language was Telugu so it was always spoken around the house. All three of them understand it and can speak some. My husband can speak it the best. This is probably because it was his first language as well. When he was little, he lived with his grandparents in India for two years. While there Ummama (grandma) and Thathya (grandpa) taught him how to speak Telugu. After he moved back to the US, he quickly learned English and began to speak that more than Telugu. I think his experience in India, as a child, helped him to hold on to the language. 
With such a large extended family, my husband attended many Indian weddings growing up. If you can ever crash an Indian wedding, DO IT. They are always beautiful and extravagant. Check out my pinterest board if you curious to see what some of them look like.Indian weddings are also much different than American weddings. They last much longer and have many more ceremonies before and during the wedding. My husband was able to learn and take part in many Indian wedding customs. I'm pretty sure the main reason he went growing up was for the massive party afterwards. The receptions are always a huge party. It was the time to dance to amazing Bollywood music and have the time of his life with all of his cousins.
As my husband and his siblings grew, his family was able to bring in American customs and traditions as well. It was all brand new for them. They were able to experiment and try out new traditions in there own house as well as observe how their friend's families worked. One of my favorite things my husband has shared with me is how much he loves holidays with my family. Christmas and Thanksgiving have always been huge holidays for my family. We have so many traditions from Christmas eve pajamas to Christmas Eve soup. He told me he loves to take part in the traditions my family has had for years. Being a second generation Indian has created some interesting challenges for our relationship. When I came into the family, my husband had to teach me about an entirely new culture. I had never been to India and knew little about Indian culture. He knew all about Indian culture as it affected him. However, he learned about so much when we got engaged. 
It would have been very nice if we knew exactly what to do, but that's far from the truth. In reality, we figured it out by doing many things wrong. I called his mother by her first name, I used the wrong hand while eating, we attempted to hold hands in front of his family prior to being engaged, then of course getting married and having an Indian/American wedding. There are so many rich customs and traditions in Indian culture. My husband and I love being able to bring those into our own family. The one thing I didn't expect was for my husband to be learning with me. He had seen so many traditions and customs growing up. He took part in many of them, but he was able to understand them in a completely different way when we were together. He no longer attended a ceremony or took part in a tradition just because he always had. Now he had a fiancé to explain everything to. He learned the why behind them. Now, we have three handsome boys that we are teaching all of these things to. Our oldest son is constantly asking questions about the customs and traditions he sees. "Why do I have to call my aunt Utha?""What hand is the right hand to eat with?""Why is everyone trying to feed me?"He has asked so many great questions that have taught us a lot. The great thing about my husband being a second generation Indian is that he can teach us all of the things he has learned about his culture from growing up and learn new things with us. Are you married to a first or second generation ______? If so where are they or their family from?
Family Fridays #3 Junnu
I'm very excited about this week's Family Fridays edition! I was able to get a recipe for my brand new pressure cooker! I've never used one, but everyone here assures me it makes life much easier! Instead of an Indian dish taking a full day to cook, it only takes 30-45 minutes! This week's recipe is brought to us by Padma. She is going to teach us how to make Junnu. Her and her husband have two beautiful children and she wants to share a bit about her family with us. 
What makes this dish special to you?My three siblings and I grew up eating Junnu. I missed it after moving to the US, but didn't know how to make it. One day, a friend of mine brought it to my Telugu fellowship. She shared the recipe with me and now I can make it whenever I want! JunnuIngredients:3 eggs1 cup sweetened condensed milk1 1/2 cups half and half milk Few peppers1 tsp of cardamom Directions:Beat 3 eggs in a big bowl and add condensed milk. Mix. Add half and half and combine. Add in crushed peppers and cardamom on top of it and put the lid on. Pour some water in your pressure cooker. Put the bowl inside the pressure cooker and close the it. Let it cook for 40 to 45 minutes over low flame.Do you want to share a family recipe? If so click here. Did you like this post? If so don't leave before you sign up for my weekly newsletter!
My Intercultural Love Story- Guest Post
I'm very excited to be partnering with Madh Mama this morning and sharing my Intercultural Love Story. Madh Mama is one of my new favorite blogs. She has a very similar story to my own. She married her East Indian husband, had an adorable little girl, and is now navigating life through two cultures. On her blog, she shares Intercultural Love Stories and her experience in Indian culture. Make sure you check her out.Check out her blog this morning to see my story. She asked me questions about my husband, family, how we met, and a handful of others. Heres a little peak. 
What Do We Do About Bullying?
As an adult, you start to take pride in what sets you apart. You want to stand out and be different, one of a kind. Often times, society tries to tell us we’re all the same. Buy the same clothes, do your hair the same way, get it cut the same way, say the same things, but we can’t ever be exactly the same. We need to challenge our society and remind children their differences make up who they are.
Do you have a similar story? What makes you unique? Were you always proud of it?
We Are The Fifteen Percent
I love sharing my blog with people. It's a great opportunity to talk to others about my marriage and what I've learned. Who doesn't want to talk to people about something that's made them so happy? I'm constantly looking up like-minded blogs. I want to hear other stories similar to mine, get advice, and see if they face the same challenges. I'm surprised when I only stumble upon a few. I forget that intercultural marriages aren't as common as I'd like to think. In a recent statistic, they stated only 15 percent of new marriages are intercultural. It's such a small group! So small in fact that it's started a movement called We Are The Fifteen Percent! There's a website where people all over the US share their pictures and show off their beautiful intercultural family. What a great idea! I love browsing through all the new pictures every month. It's encouraging when my husband and I go through challenging seasons. My husband and I have been very blessed to be in such a great community of people that support our marriage. All marriages have their struggles and some of ours come from blending two cultures, but most is just our stubborn attitudes. There are many intercultural marriages out there that can say the same thing. Not all couples are that lucky. Some are faced with tremendous prejudice and racism. I stumbled onto a story in the news this week. A server at a Buffalo Wild Wings was faced with racism over her relationship. She is white and her boyfriend is black which was apparently very offensive to a group of drunk kids. They started calling her boyfriend terribly derogative names. She then proceeded to write a blog post about it. She couldn't believe that this could still happen in 2015. Her post went viral! Thousands of people shared it and it had close to one million views. You would think that she would be greeted with a huge community support. She had a lot of positive and encouraging words alongside hate mail and death threats. Racism is real people. It hasn't gone away. Intercultural relationships may be more accepted, but it is the minority. What can you do?Be open to anything different and educate yourself. Learn about other cultures. Instead of awkwardly staring at someone with a turban, look up why they wear it. Every culture is rich with differences. Yours isn't better just because you're comfortable with it. If you'd like to share your story, share a picture of you and you're partner on Instagram and tag me @almstindianwife or share it on my facebook page. The more people hear and see the 15 percent, the less novel it becomes, and the more we defeat prejudice and racism.
Speaking Telugu and a Bit of Nostalgia
My husband Joel learned Telugu as his first language. He lived in India for a few years when he was little and moved back when he was only about four. He started school and quickly learned a sad truth. Kids can be terrible. He was asked a question and answered saying, “kukka,” which means dog. The classroom immediately erupted into laughter. All of the kids started to make fun of him.Our Children's First Haircuts
Levi's hair. Oh Levi's hair. It's beautiful. It's luscious.
How old was your child before you cut their hair for the first time?
Sharline's Famous Coconut Green Beans
We all have that one person in our lives. That person who's known for one recipe. One amazing dish. Joel's family has Sharline or Chinnapinni as we call her. She makes this dish every time she has people come over. It's famous with all of her Indian and white friends! The true test is that Joel hates vegetables and this is one of his favorite sides! What is it you ask? Coconut green beans. While we were on vacation, I begged her to teach me how to make them. I've tried to make them before with no success. They were missing a key ingredient, the coconut! As soon as you try these bad boys, they'll be a staple in your house. There is just one rule that comes with these green beans. Tell everyone they are Sharline's Green Beans!!
Ingredients:
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1 pound of frozen green beans2 tbs oil2 tbs ginger garlic paste2 tsp turmeric1 tsp Indian chili powder1-2 tsp salt1 1/2 tbs coconut powder **I got my coconut "powder" from the Indian store. It looks more like coconut flakes.**
Directions:
Heat your pan to medium heat. Add in your oil. When the oil is hot add your onion and brown. Drop in your turmeric, ginger garlic paste, salt, and chili powder. Cook down for 2 minutes. Add your green beans.**You can use fresh or frozen green beans. If you decide on using fresh, add in 1/8 cup of water.**Put a lid on your green beans and cook until tender. I like to cook mine and leave a bite to it. At the very end, add in your coconut and cook for another minute or so.Serve and enjoy!