Well for the purpose of my really hard task of writing every day, I decided that I want to change my topics from being a lockdown post to a generic one. Also, the situation around is getting better, so that's good news for us. We are getting our daily milk and groceries so the day goes by. But the eternal and I am sure people who cook in their house every day know this dilemma very well...
WHAT TO COOK TODAY? (Khaane mein kya hai aaj?)
When I was in school and in Uni, this was a standard question asked to my mother/aunt (We lived in a joint family, still do actually. So my father's younger brother, wife and their two children. We all stay together). My aunt (Geetha) used to pick us up every day from school and would always face the dreaded question:
Us: What have you made today?
She *after avoiding looking at us*: Sambar, Rice, Rasam, and Sabzi
And all of us would groan in unison and protest that they never made anything interesting and we want a chips/ice cream/etc on the way back to make up for the lousy menu.
Now when I have to decide on a menu to cook, it is quite a task to please everyone! So I understand the torture that we put them through, but nevertheless when I go back to Delhi. I still demand an interesting menu.
So I decided to try my mother's famous Mirch ka Salan (to put it in a fancy manner fried chilies in a spicy sauce) and Biryani to test. She had recently visited and had made this for our family here and everyone loved it. So I decided to make that over the weekend. My mother is a great cook and a fast cook. She finishes all her cooking very quickly, I really admire her culinary skills. But she cannot explain the recipes properly, the proportions and also key ingredients will go missing when she tells you to make. She doesn't maintain a recipe book, it's mostly in her head and really only comes to play when she is the one who is cooking.
Me: I want to make your Mirch ka salan and biryani tommorow
Amma: Sure, you do want to get a pen and paper to note down the recipe?
Me: Nah.. its okay I am recording it so will listen to it in the morning
Amma: *goes on to explain me the entire recipe* If you have any doubts give me a call
Of course I had doubts because when I listened to the recording, I realized she hasn't given me any quantities and had also forgotten tamarind and sesame seeds which I remember she added when she made it. So I video called and showed her my ingredients and asked if it was the right proportions.
Me*frusterated* The point of you giving me a recipe is lost, next time I should just do a video recording of you making the food. Are you sure you haven't forgotten anything this time?
Amma: Yes Yes, its all there now, oh wait... did I mention chopped tomatoes..no? Okay add that as well after the onions...
Well the biryani did come out well, but hers was better. But cooking runs in our blood, if I can say so my father is an excellent cook and we love his aaloo vadiyan and actually anything he cooks, my Geetha Aunty cooks amazing mixed variety rice and Rajma which now my niece also enjoys. Both my brothers Sam and Arjun cook really well when they cook that is! And my younger Sister Adu also bakes beautiful cakes and sweets. My elder Sister Namu, however is not fond of cooking and has a limited menu that she makes, but those are really tasty. Her husband however makes up for it, he makes really innovative dishes and experiments with ingredients.
It does make me feel that we do associate certain dishes with certain people and it's interesting how they become a part of that cooking as well. Whenever I make Paneer, I think of my brother Arjun, since he loves it and when I make Pasta I remember my darling niece Adhya who adores it! Food is so much more than just food, it becomes an emotion. Certain food remind us of our childhood, certain food of our love and certain food make us travel (like eating a good momo takes me to Dilli Haat or having Corn on Cob with butter reminds me of Nandos).
This is my list of favorite food made by my favorite people:
1. Pappa : Aaloo vadiyan
2. Amma: Pongal and Gotsu
3. Geetha Aunty: Rajma Chawal
4. Ramani Mama: Chai
5. Namu: Burger
6. Advaitha : Gajar ka halwa
7. Sam: Biryani
8. Arjun: Chilli Panner
9. Amma (Mother in law): Jackfruit Sabzi
10: Lavanya (Sister in law) : Madhurai style Biryani
What is your comfort food? Gosh that reminds me, what should I make tomorrow?
WHAT TO COOK TODAY? (Khaane mein kya hai aaj?)
When I was in school and in Uni, this was a standard question asked to my mother/aunt (We lived in a joint family, still do actually. So my father's younger brother, wife and their two children. We all stay together). My aunt (Geetha) used to pick us up every day from school and would always face the dreaded question:
Us: What have you made today?
She *after avoiding looking at us*: Sambar, Rice, Rasam, and Sabzi
And all of us would groan in unison and protest that they never made anything interesting and we want a chips/ice cream/etc on the way back to make up for the lousy menu.
Now when I have to decide on a menu to cook, it is quite a task to please everyone! So I understand the torture that we put them through, but nevertheless when I go back to Delhi. I still demand an interesting menu.
So I decided to try my mother's famous Mirch ka Salan (to put it in a fancy manner fried chilies in a spicy sauce) and Biryani to test. She had recently visited and had made this for our family here and everyone loved it. So I decided to make that over the weekend. My mother is a great cook and a fast cook. She finishes all her cooking very quickly, I really admire her culinary skills. But she cannot explain the recipes properly, the proportions and also key ingredients will go missing when she tells you to make. She doesn't maintain a recipe book, it's mostly in her head and really only comes to play when she is the one who is cooking.
Me: I want to make your Mirch ka salan and biryani tommorow
Amma: Sure, you do want to get a pen and paper to note down the recipe?
Me: Nah.. its okay I am recording it so will listen to it in the morning
Amma: *goes on to explain me the entire recipe* If you have any doubts give me a call
Of course I had doubts because when I listened to the recording, I realized she hasn't given me any quantities and had also forgotten tamarind and sesame seeds which I remember she added when she made it. So I video called and showed her my ingredients and asked if it was the right proportions.
Me*frusterated* The point of you giving me a recipe is lost, next time I should just do a video recording of you making the food. Are you sure you haven't forgotten anything this time?
Amma: Yes Yes, its all there now, oh wait... did I mention chopped tomatoes..no? Okay add that as well after the onions...
Well the biryani did come out well, but hers was better. But cooking runs in our blood, if I can say so my father is an excellent cook and we love his aaloo vadiyan and actually anything he cooks, my Geetha Aunty cooks amazing mixed variety rice and Rajma which now my niece also enjoys. Both my brothers Sam and Arjun cook really well when they cook that is! And my younger Sister Adu also bakes beautiful cakes and sweets. My elder Sister Namu, however is not fond of cooking and has a limited menu that she makes, but those are really tasty. Her husband however makes up for it, he makes really innovative dishes and experiments with ingredients.
It does make me feel that we do associate certain dishes with certain people and it's interesting how they become a part of that cooking as well. Whenever I make Paneer, I think of my brother Arjun, since he loves it and when I make Pasta I remember my darling niece Adhya who adores it! Food is so much more than just food, it becomes an emotion. Certain food remind us of our childhood, certain food of our love and certain food make us travel (like eating a good momo takes me to Dilli Haat or having Corn on Cob with butter reminds me of Nandos).
This is my list of favorite food made by my favorite people:
1. Pappa : Aaloo vadiyan
2. Amma: Pongal and Gotsu
3. Geetha Aunty: Rajma Chawal
4. Ramani Mama: Chai
5. Namu: Burger
6. Advaitha : Gajar ka halwa
7. Sam: Biryani
8. Arjun: Chilli Panner
9. Amma (Mother in law): Jackfruit Sabzi
10: Lavanya (Sister in law) : Madhurai style Biryani
What is your comfort food? Gosh that reminds me, what should I make tomorrow?
Wow soo well written enjoyed reading it and soo sweet that you included all the family members cooking is easy but what to make is the most difficult task if you master that then you are master chef please keep writing I love the way you write as writing is an art which many can't do
ReplyDeleteThanks, for being my cheerleader
DeleteWhatta mouth watering post this is!! And cannot agree more when you say, it is the toughest question ever to answer "Aaj khaane mein kya hai". Hence to escape the horror, I'd give my MIL the task to brainstorm the menu and I'd just take the responsibility to obey the command.
ReplyDeleteIts really commendable you mentioned everyone's cullinary specials here, as now I'd know what to ask for when I visit ur parents and Namu...
Sure sure, ask them to make it. You yourself come from a family of great chefs.I am sure you would be a good judge of great cooking
Delete