Monkey Platter Festival

Pumpkin/Squash Bharta Recipe and notes

2010-01-31T09:00:00.000-08:00

From Hema:

for now here is the Squash/pumpkin dip:

Pumpkin/Squash Bharta (eaten as a minor item alongside a main vegetable and chapatis... but acts beautifully as a dip with pita chips, veggies)

Ingredients:
1. Use a squash or pumpkin that is used for pumpkin soups.
You need 1 1/2 cups of steamed mashed pulp. Should be fully cooked.
2. Yogurt.... add per taste.... enough to make it creamy is fine.
3. mustard seeds 1 tsp
4. asafoetida and turmeric 1/4 tsp each
5. curry leaves (available at Indian stores) about 5-6 is enough
6. cumin seeds (1/2 tsp)
7. finely chopped coriander
8. 1tbs of oil... you could use olive... but make sure not to smoke it when you heat it.
9. 1 deseeded, spicy green chilly, cut in half. optional.

How to:
Mix the steamed, mashed squash/pumpkin pulp well. Usually well steamed squash/pumpkin does not have any stringy bits... but if there are any lumpy/stringy bits then remove them. Add salt to taste and set aside.

Heat a tbs of oil in your tiniest saucepan or pan with walls. Add mustard seeds and allow them to split (pop). This should happen quickly if the oil is hot (not smoking) then add cumin, turmeric and curry leaves. Add the deseeded chilly. Switch of the heat quickly at this stage. Now add the asafoetida. The chilly can explode a bit sometimes so take care. You have now tempered the oil according to indian cookbook terminology. But i think we've infused the oil with the flavors of the spices.

Chili notes:
The chilly can be removed at this stage if you dont want it to continue spreading its heat in the dish. But as it is deseeded it won't be much. I've even used haberneros and its added a different flavor... a nice twist.

Now add the infused oil (along with the seeds, curry leaves etc...) to the Pumpkin/Sqash mix. Mix it up well. Allow it all to cool to room temperature.

Now add the whisked yogurt a little at a time to the mix. Make it as creamy as you want without loosing out on the flavor of the pumpkin/squash. Add salt per taste. Add the chopped coriander on top.... for color contrast and flavor. Or you can mix it in too.

Can be stored in the fridge for 2-3 days. Best served by taking it out of the fridge an hour before you need to serve it. So the temperature is closer to room temp. Serving it very cold makes it taste less spicy.

Candid Rangoli

2009-11-19T18:21:00.001-08:00

I discovered two photos, looking through Hema's online stuff, and wrote and asked her about them. Her response is below.

On Thu, Nov 19, 2009 at 6:34 PM, Sandra Dodd wrote:

I lifted these from your slide show on your blog. Are those "natural" rangoli? Or something else?

Yes they are! more on that later. rushing
--
Hema A. Bharadwaj
http://thebharadwajknights.blogspot.com/

The later note:

Wrt the rangoli.... its more modernistic type rangloi done at functions etc. Those photos were at Rvi's friend's boys thread ceremony. interestingly... his friend is Indian born but has lived about 20 years in the states... and married a white, american... and has no intention of returning to india. But wanted to come back to india to conduct this ceremony for his boys...

Beatles Rock Band (Sunday, unscheduled)

2009-11-19T09:01:00.001-08:00

Sometimes things just happen.

Rangoli on Sunday

2009-11-19T06:18:00.000-08:00

Because we forgot to do this on Wednesday at Tiguex Park, Hema showed us Rangoli.

The supplies are patterns (Hema has some in her head, but she brought two books, as well, and gave them to me), and powders. The white makes the design, and the others fill in.

We started on the front step, but it was too cold and too dry. The powder wasn't falling as it should have—static electricity or whatever dry air does.

We went inside and used the old wooden gateleg table Keith and I have had since we were young. So it's not authentic to do it on a table. It should have been at the front door and at the back gate. I still have the colors if anyone wants to come and try some.

The photos aren't in a great order, because they came from several cameras. And then there was a moment when I whined that I wasn't a good artist but I could surely sing. MY MISTAKE. Not that I was a better artist, but here, look: Couldn't sing, either.

There are other photos but I'm tired

2009-11-17T18:25:00.001-08:00

Ravi and Hema arrived safely in New Jersey where they'll be until after Thanksgiving.

Hema wrote that Zoya was really unhappy to leave. "She told me that no other aeroplane must go to ABQ without her... as our airline stood in line for takeoff. :-)" I think she's missing our dog, Gudrun, more than anyone else.

I really will put more photos up, but not tonight, and probably not tomorrow. There are some good ones, though.

Sandra

Thursday at the Zoo

2009-11-14T16:21:00.001-08:00

These photos won't be in chronological order.

Ravi's video above, and Ravi's photos:

Sandra and Robin (she used my camera there in the middle because hers was uploading photos to my computer):

Raghu under the tree

2009-11-14T16:15:00.000-08:00

Raghu went across the park and sat under a tree.

He called his parents and sister over, too.

I heard that he gave each one a kiss. They all put their heads together. I'm glad there are some photos, even though it was an intimate family moment.

Ross-Enchanted Park, Tuesday afternoon

2009-11-14T16:06:00.000-08:00

These are pictures of the park other than the leaf-throwing project:

Ravi's:

Holly's:

Robin's:

Around the house

2009-11-14T15:59:00.000-08:00

Kids playing at the house, at one time or another over those few days:

From Holly's photos:

Robin and John:

Ravi's:

Cutting Water (ongoing)

2009-11-14T15:02:00.000-08:00

Robin's and John's:

Ravi's, first of Hema's awesome slice, and then various other things:

Indian Cooking (Tuesday morning)

2009-11-14T14:32:00.000-08:00

Here's a video on which you can hear Hema and Ravi's voices, and Ravi has the camera:

Ravi walking around the upstairs, and you can see the other food.

Another couple of families showed up after this. This is the thinnest the group ever was, I think. These videos are good for voices, but the biggest thing was the smell!!

The next two are from Holly's point of view, so you can see Ravi:

Robin's camera:

Ravi's:

Tiguex Park (Wednesday afternoon)

2009-11-14T13:13:00.000-08:00

From Bethany's photos:

What Holly saw:

Ravi's:

Explora, Wednesday morning

2009-11-14T11:00:00.000-08:00

Bethany took these:

Ravi's photos and two videos:

Holly made this video of a new water exhibit (new to us):

Holly photos from Explora:

Sandra saw a little bit:

Animated Leaves

2009-11-13T20:24:00.000-08:00

Holly made the animated gif from photos John Yaeger took. Marty's out of frame, but he was to the left and when the parachute disappears it's because Marty did (on schedule) jerk it away. And he also fell down humorously, but that doesn't show.

This was on Tuesday at Ross Enchanted Park near my house.

Here's a video from Robin's camera, before the clever idea of filling up the parachute:

Marshmallows and Toothpicks

2009-11-11T23:07:00.000-08:00

Leaves (THAT was fun!!)

2009-11-11T20:41:00.000-08:00

Tuesday afternoon, Beth had a parachute toy thing, and we had a park with leaves, and I went and got some rakes, and...

We didn't throw the kids up. :-) We lifted the cloth and buried them. Then they got out and we flipped the leaves up. We did it three or four times. It was great.

Here are Robin Yaeger's photos of that, each a thumbnail portal to a larger image:

From Holly's photos:

Ravi did this, on our first two attempts, before we discovered someone needed to pull the parachute away so the leaves could fall:

We forgot to do rangoli.

2009-11-11T16:16:00.001-08:00

The sand was there, the patterns were there, the plan was there, but there was never a lull when people wondered "Okay, what now?"

We're home and unpacking, and found the materials. *sorry*
I don't guess the zoo would want colored sand on their flagstone...

If anyone was particularly interested in seeing or doing that, please e-mail me and maybe we could do it here at the house before they fly away on Monday. We could try to arrange a time.

There will be more photos soon.

Wednesday Plans and Tuesday Review

2009-11-10T20:04:00.000-08:00

First, I've said 10:00 to some people and 10:30 to others, about Explora on Wednesday, and I'm sorry. But it hardly matters, because people will see Explora in various groups and combinations, and some kids might be too tired or too young. So 10:00 or 10:30 is close enough, and if some just want to go to Tiguex Park at 12:30 and meet us there, that's fine too. Go to the climbing equipment, please, and there will be a demonstration of rangoli, an Indian art form (we can participate) involving making patterns with colored sand. Hema brought the real stuff all the way from India, and will show us how! We can do it on the concrete at the park. (An example is here: http://monkeyplatterfestival.blogspot.com/2009/10/indian-cooking-early-inspiration.html)

Also we didn't get to the marshmallow and toothpick construction today, so I'll bring those supplies to the park Wednesday, too.

Wednesday night, swimming, 6:00-8:00 p.m., West Mesa Aquatic Center.

Images, thusfar, in part:

If you want to larger versions of particular images, click the thumbnail. The first five are from Monday, filling up the gallon jugs, and going to kid-friendly Pancho's to have sopaipillas.

I have no photos of the park, which was the most photogenic part, so if anyone else has some online, please leave a link below. If I receive some by e-mail, I'll add them somewhere, too. My camera gave up its battery early today, and has been on the charger extra long, for tomorrow.

SOON!

2009-11-09T14:22:00.001-08:00

Today Hema's family arrived.

We're both in the unschooling chat; so is Holly, until 5:00
http://sandradodd.com/room

Tomorrow, my house! The Indian cooking will begin at 10:30 in the morning, so come between 9:30 and 10:30. Park behind the house and come in the wooden back gate.
When you get into the back yard there are three doors. Take the middle door and come on in. We'll leave notes so you can find the kitchen.
http://sandradodd.com/house

There will be things out for the kids to play with, and food. Bring monkey platters or contributions for platters. I have trays.

In the afternoon, Keith and Marty will help kids gallons of water with a sword. Kids or adults are welcome to try that.

There's a park within near walking distance, and a bowling alley.

Wednesday, Explora, 10:00, meet in the paradox cafe at the top of the stairs to let us know you're there (I'll sit around a while up there). Lunch will be at 12:30 in Tiguex Park. Monkey Platters! I'll bring apple juice and paper cups, paper napkins and some food.

Then you might need to rest a while because at 6:00 the pool.

Thursday, 1:00, zoo, lawn toward the polar bears. Bring monkey platter food and unschooling questions or stories.

Sandra

The GOOD News! (and... not really any bad news)

2009-10-26T19:05:00.000-07:00

Our contact at the Radisson seems to have dissolved, and because the water park isn't finished, our contract can be dissolved too. That means there's no meeting room, so no costs, and so no fees!

The swimming plan is moved to Wednesday night at the West Mesa pool, and ~~Friday~~Thursday afternoon we'll go to the zoo.

More details are here: SandraDodd.com/festival

Monkey Platter Countdown!

2009-10-23T08:04:00.000-07:00

The time is getting close! Hema's family left India today. They're going to London, and then New Jersey, and then here.

Yesterday I was cleaning up the kitchen so we'll have lots of room for the Indian cooking demo, and I polished a silver tray and two silver bowls. I know kids will eat off plastic or paper, but hey... it's a big party!

I have lots of trays, so if you want to contribute foods to platters, you won't need to bring a plate or tray if you don't want to. We can use my stuff every day. Because of the SCA and medieval feast and camping projects over the years, and because of my thrift-store habits, we have lots of wooden and metal trays and platters.

I've reminded the hotel several times about wanting a sign-up page for our event, but I'm willing to give up on them. If you want to make a reservation at the Radisson for the Monkey Platter Festival, we have an $84 rate (and they'll add taxes). I had $90 on the page, but talked them back down. I'll go and change that.

So call 800-333-3333 or 505-888-3311 between 8 am and 5 pm Mountain time, and say you're with the Monkey Platter Festival. The available dates at that $84 rate are November 9-13. Double check that they say $84 base rate, and let them know whether you want a king or two doubles.

Do this pretty soon if you're using the hotel!

Pictures are here: http://sandradodd.com/festival/radisson09

Indian cooking, early inspiration

2009-10-16T05:57:00.000-07:00

Hema (whose name sounds like HEYma) wrote and here's some of the news:

I'm in Indore where Ravi's aunt is an awesome cook. So i'm getting some large quantities of home-made goodies... to share at the festival. And she is giving some basic home-made-flour for making chaklis (someone's blog has a photo of this). My mom is sending home-made vegetable pickles and some home-made masalas.

Also Hema had asked how she could help in advance, and I said we didn't have logo art, so...

Here is something Ravi and I put together today. It's got a monkey platter feel but is Indianised and has more of a special-day feeling. The foods are sweet and savory, hot and cold. All are snack items. Not main entree variety. The rangoli design drawn around the thali (plate) is hand made by me and my sister-in-law. The foods are made by Ravi's aunt mostly and one item by my sister-in-law.

Monkey Platter Update and notes

2009-10-15T08:34:00.000-07:00

New activity, if the weather is nice on Day 1 at my house (November 10): Cutting gallons of water in half with a sword. If you want to. Pictures of it having been done previously are linked below. We'll have safety people and coaches for those interested. You'll get several chances.
"Water My Yard with Swords" day
and we did it another time, on Kirby's birthday:
Kirby's birthday

For those of you who know for sure you're coming (besides Beth, who's speaking, and Lee, who will be filming and interviewing, and Hema, the guest of honor), I need to pay for the conference room soon, so please register in advance. If the cost of the room is covered (it's $360 or so) by Thursday, those who've stayed at the Radisson can request a refund of their family's portion. You can send me a check or use paypal.

The water park isn't finished but we can have a pool party that afternoon (Thursday).

Each day there's a park involved, with playground equipment. Tuesday it will just be for playing, because we can eat at my house.
Wednesday we'll eat at the park across from the museum.
Thursday we'll eat two blocks from the hotel, an easy walk.

I'll provide kid-readable maps to those parks, so try to let the kids find the place if you're patient enough. It will be more fun.

There will be mom-readable maps to the main sites before time. It's easy to get from the hotel to my house by bus, and I'll have directions and times before the day. The hotel will run a shuttle van to Explora and back on Wednesday for anyone staying at the hotel without a car, so as it turns out, people don't have to have a car for this! The airport will get people to The Radisson, and other things are easy.

The $10 is really for the use of the pool Thursday. I need to pay for the room, and only those registered for the conference can be there or in the pool. Bummer about the water park. I'm disappointed and they're embarrassed, but the hotel rates are still pretty good and we have the room for Beth and me to speak and for our Q&A session! Lee Stranahan will be there that day, and maybe other days, recording some of the talks or discussion, and maybe talking to some of you if you want. He and Lauren are unschooling their kids, and Lee's documenting people's experiences with and thoughts on unschooling.

To make it easier for people to add suggestions and ask questions, I'm going to go ahead and make a blog for this, and will start with most of this note.