It’s holiday time and we celebrate a very informal Christmas around here.
Presents are arriving by the truckload (well ok, not a truckload left here,
but the truck BRINGS the presents, so that counts!). 😉
I have to hide presents from the kiddies, but for the *kitties*, presents via mail or UPS means awesome fun in the wrapping! Daisy loves brown paper.
Tonight I played with her using her fav toy, a feather on a string with a bell attached. I call it her jingle-mouse. Here she is, playing with it and a long roll of the brown wrapping paper.
daisy chasing jingle-mouse in the paper, just before it jumped out
daisy looking for her jingle-mouse… she hears it, but where did it go??
playful daisy jumping to get the jingle-mouse
chasing the jingle-mouse into the paper…
that paper makes such a neat noise, mom! 🙂
~~~
Santa came early to me too…. click on the pic to see what I got 🙂
lucky me! a real mixie and idlies are just a flip of the switch away, now 🙂
thank you, santa! light and delicious red rice idlies and mixed veggie sambhar
Out Of The Garden 
Padmaja said
wow!! brand new sumeet!! Now i am so J, so many accessories n jars!!! hey lucky girl!!! enjoy your christmas and happy new year wishes!!
Hi Padmaja — and thank you for your good wishes! Wishing you a very happy new year too 🙂
mm said
Daisy looks content to play with the paper….that is the best cat toy ever! A sheet of paper and a string. Loved the picts, Linda… Happy Holidays to you! mm
Thank you mm — I know you are a cat-lover so you know all the good toys too! Happy Holidays 🙂
Suganya said
Paper bag – $0
Jingle Mouse (feather + bell) – $1
Watch her play with it – Priceless.
I looooove kitties. And she is pretty.
Aw, thanks Suganya 🙂 Love your cost analysis too 🙂
Nupur said
Oh, my you got a real live mixie!!! Lucky lucky Linda 🙂
I *heart* your kitty. Cats can be so endlessly playful. My pooch plays only when he is in the mood, and then mostly with V and not me.
I know what you mean about lucky, thanks, Nupur! Daisy is a playful girl, but she’s the younger of my two. I think the other one (a boy) is a senior citizen — he’s more like your adorable Dale in his play 🙂
Raaga said
you got a Sumeet… lucky girl… I left my SUmeet back home and make do with a Kenstar now 🙂 Merry X’mas
Hi Raaga, I haven’t seen a Kenstar, will have to look. Wishing you a very Happy New Year! 🙂
sra said
What a very nice gift! Is that a kitchen timer I see amidst all those gleaming parts?
Hi Sra — I don’t have a timer, so not sure what you are seeing. I did get a new camera however, maybe next time I can shoot a better pic! 🙂 Happy New Year, dear! 🙂
Asha said
SUMEET!!! YAY!!!:D
I know you will love it, makes the best Urad dal vadas in that blender unlike any other. Enjoy. Kitty is so cute,simple things gives the most pleasure in life!!
Happy holidays to you and your’s!:))
I love it already, Asha, thanks for your enthusiastic endorsement! I was blown away when I made the idlies… talk about fast and easy! Hope you’re enjoying the holiday break with the kids too 🙂
shyam said
Merry Christmas, Linda 🙂 What a great prezzie!
And…red rice idlis? RED rice? Wot dat? You dont mean rose matta rice, do you? I’m so woefully ignorant! 😦
You, ignorant Shammi??? I believe that is an oxymoron 😉
Yes, I did mean kerala red rice aka Rosematta — Merry Christmakwanzaakah (as my daughter would say) to you and Pete, and wishing you both a wonderful 2008! 🙂
richa said
u got a sumeet 🙂 idli/sambar…yummmmmmmm enjoy………
Thass me Richa, smiling all the way to the kitchen! Thanks 🙂
Happy Cook said
Thz kittis is so cute.
I love the idlis and sambar. You may have the mixie hope santa brings me the idly and sambar.
Well one can wish
I will send some idlies and sambhar straightaway, HC! Glad you enjoyed the kitty and supper pics, and Happy New Year! 🙂
bee said
how, how, how, did you get them idlis to ferment? merry christmas to you, and that darling little kitty.
Thanks, Bee — hope you and Jai had a great holiday however you celebrated 😉
Idlies fermented nicely with a few extra methi seeds soaked for a day, plus the batter had a good long rest in the oven for another. I was surprised but it worked! 🙂
Cynthia said
Lucky you!
I second that Cynthia! Happy New Year to you, my friend 🙂
Shankari said
U lucky gal! Merry christmas Linda!
I can’t argue with that Shankari — I’m lucky indeed. Wishing you all the best in 2008! 🙂
Kalva said
lucky you… mine is so old abt 5 now… time to get new one..njoy idlis and dosas dear!!!
Hi Kalva, and thank you! Wishing you Happy New Year 🙂
Srivalli said
wow…congrats on getting the mixie..now I am sure you will be trying out many news dishes with this!..the snowscape in the previous post is great!
Thanks so much Srivalli, I’m glad you enjoyed the snow! And you’re right — I can’t wait to get that mixie going on a regular basis 🙂
Rajeswari said
Sumeet mixer?! Congrats!
Thanks Rajeswari dear, and Happy New Year to you 🙂
TBC said
Merry Christmas, Linda. 🙂
Best wishes for the holiday season!
Thanks TBC dear and wishing you the same 🙂
Anita said
And you can make your own ‘cultured’ butter in a jiffy in one of those jars with the dome lids (of course, you need cream from milk that has not been ultra-pasteurised)! Besides all the other goodies, of course.
Merry Christmas! And a happy New Year!
You mean I need a pasture for a cow, Anita!? 😉
Thanks for the good wishes and Happy New Year to you too! 🙂
simpleanddelicious said
Merry Christmas and Happy New year Linda!
Thanks so much and Happy New Year to you! 🙂
Aparna said
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, Linda. Also wishing you many happy cooking hours with the mixer/ grinder.
Thank you so much Aparna — wishing you all the best for a Happy New Year too! 🙂
indosungod said
Merry Christmas and a Wonderful New Year! Those Red rice idlies sure look good. I was in a Kitchen appliances/utensils store this morning, was thinking of you.
You know me too well, ISG 😉 What a nice surprise to see you here! Hope you’re enjoying the vacation to the fullest. Happy New Year to you and all your lovely family — miss you and look forward to seeing you back in Jan! 🙂
Rainee said
Hi, Those idlies look yummy. Where did you get your Sumeet from? Am on the lookout for one, but haven’t found one yet.
Hi Rainee, and thanks for the kind words 🙂 The Sumeet came from a place in Canada, I believe — it was a gift so let me try to find out just where and if I can, I’ll send you a note via email 🙂
VegeYum said
Oh, wow, I so want a mixie too. Well, it is 24th Dec here, and time for me to wish all of my blog friends a wonderful time with family and friends tomorrow. May it be a peaceful and blessed day where we can give a lot of joy to those around us. Have a great day.
Hope you get your Mixie wishes and Peace and blessings too, VegeYum — Happy New Year! 🙂
Revathi said
Hppy Holidays Sweetheart.. Word of caution – Be careful with the Mixie, these indian brands are very powerful mostly 550 Watts – So be careful when u are switching on.
A few tips would be
1. Dont fit the jar and then plug in the Mixie. Chances are the regulator will be already in level 1 or 2 when we are cleaning. It is always better to plug in the mixie make sure that the mixie is not running and then fitting the jar.
2. Dont try to overcrowd the small jars. They get heated up pretty quickly. If you feel the heat switch the mixie off for a while. A while ago I stuffed three tomatoes into the smallest Preethi jar and I had chutney on the roof – Seriously !!!
3. Make sure the lids of jars are properly closed before switching on
4. Dont open the jar while running – Baddd Badd ideaa – again from experience.
5. dont be shy to pour water if the batter is tight while grinding the idly batter…
Congrats on your new tools !!
Hi Revathi and a wonderful Happy New Year to you, dear 🙂
Thanks so much for all these wonderful tips! I must admit I have experienced a few of these mishaps with my regular blender so you can be sure I will be extra careful with the mixie. I can’t believe the power of that motor, idly batter in the blink of an eye! I did notice the lids need attention to secure properly, so hopefully my ceiling will stay clean 😉
Thanks again 🙂