Featured Friday: Pirate Themed Birthday Party

Ahoy Ye Mateys!

Come aboard and check out my new  Pirate Party!  I am so excited to share this with you.  I just love the way it turned out!  The Pirate Ship was ordered by one of our wonderful customers at our bakery, and became the inspiration for this party.  What an easy party to create on a budget!  All the printable items are available in my etsy shop.  Keep reading and I will tell you where I got most of the props.

 The backdrop is an old picture frame wrapped with wrapping paper from Hobby Lobby.

 The skull and table netting came from the Halloween section at Michael's.

 The Mardi Gras beads and coins were in Big Sister's stash (and I picked up some of her bangles and dress-up rings too!)

Where are some of your favorite places to shop for fun party props?

Recipe: Sambar (Indian Vegetable Soup)

This one is a favorite of my family.  It takes some time to make, but it is so flavorful you will love it!

Serves 8-10

Ingredients:
1 cup Toor Dal
3 cup + 3 tbs Water
1 tbs Tamarind Paste
7-8 tbs Vegetable Oil
1 tsp Cumin Seeds
1 tsp Black Mustard Seeds
1 whole Onion, finely chopped
1/4 tsp Asafoetida Powder
1/4 tsp Turmeric
3 Medium Tomatoes, chopped
1 cup Chopped Carrots
2 Medium Potatoes, chopped
2 1/2 tsp Red Chili Powder
2 tsp Salt (to taste)
3-4 dry red chilies with seeds
3-4 curry leaves


Directions:
1.  Cook toor dal and 1 cup water in a Pressure Cooker for 7 - 9 minutes.  While dal cooks mix tamarind paste and 3 tbs water in bowl- set aside.
2.  Heat 2 tbs oil in pan, and pop 1/2 of the cumin and  1/2 of the black mustard seed.
3.  Add onion, and fry for 5 minutes.
4.  Add asafoetida and turmeric, stir 1-2 minutes
5.  Add tomatoes, cook about 5 minutes.
6.  Add carrots, potatoes, sambar spice packet, cooked dal, red chili powder, and salt.  Add enough water to cover all veggies.
7.  Add tamarind water.  Boil 10-15 minutes until potatoes are done.
8.  Temper:  Heat 5-6 tbs oil in separate pan.  Pop remaining black mustard seed and cumin.  Add dry red chilies and curry leaves.  Pour into sambar, remove from heat.

Serve over Idlis or Medu Wada.  Big Sister eats hers alone.

Next time I may add a head of cauliflower.  This makes A LOT, so I usually only make this when we are having company.  This time we had leftovers for days!

Wordless Wednesday: August 31, 2011- Big Sister and Baby Brother