I would always say, the only thing which can never make me tired, I can go on and on trying new dishes and capturing the final view is such a proud moment. This inspiration is nothing I got at this age and it was in my blood for long. Certain things in my life has drove me now to be an active contributor, as I realized, I have something more passionate in life, which should be cared for my inner happiness. The fire to cook was from the time I was a kid, when I started playing with kitchen sets, my achan brought for me. My amma says that she recognized my talent by then, coz I was taking care of each stuff like a professional cook :P when my sis was least interested and would get bored soon :D I think I inherited it from my her only, as ancestral property. My mom is a great cook, and also had her studies focused in that area, on home science and culinary. I used to dream about the evening snacks on my way back home in bus. And anything which she feeds us her own is awesome. I remember we both sitting both sides of her to get our feed slot one after other, it was so savory. But that time there were no opportunities like now, and she just enjoyed her passion helping our taste buds.
My cooking experiments started as a school girl, and I always wished to help my mom in kitchen. As my mom knows I am amateur and can make mistakes, she always be cautious to keep me away from kitchen, as she don't wanted to end up preparing once again :D But every now and then, I intrude into her kitchen and try stuffs:P The first one among that I made myself was lemon rice. I still remember my achan trying hard, not to show the disgusting feeling :D Yeah, it was awful. But I never gave up, and I took it as a challenge, that one day I will make the most complicated dish and get an applaud from my achan :) From then it was like a determination to prove myself as a good cook, because my inner me was getting lot of satisfaction doing that.
So teenage time was when I used to take every free time to get into the kitchen and cook something. My greatest inspiration then was Sanjeev Kapoor. Till then I was under impression that women only cooks :) I always wondered how elegantly he prepares food, starting from arranging things, assembling it and the final presentation. And I guess, my process of food preparation has possessed a lot from his styles.
The latest inspiration is again a guy, you all knows "The Handsome Cook" Vikas Khanna :) Watching him is a double benefit, like watching a handsome model and the most fashionable way of cooking :P jokes apart, I am not a person who enjoys watching TV, but the cookery shows I never miss. Other inspiration is Malayalee's pride, Lakshmi Nair. She is such an awesome cook, who prepares simple to complicated ones, recipes for all :) I used to watch her show Magic oven every sundays, when I was home.
Then there were lot of experiences I had gone through, of which some of the moments I cherished in my heart and I even remember now.
One was on an Attukal Pongala day, and my mom and sis has gone for Pongala. I had stayed back as I had my term exams coming in, and for giving company to my dad. This was when I was doing my 12 board. So now I know, the Kitchen is all mine. I just took a look in the refrigerator, grabbed something, and then ideas flourished through the nerves. By noon I had prepared a full course meal, traditional though, with out anyone's help. My dad was impressed and gave a Hi Fi for my efforts :) When my mom and sis were back, they too were impressed, and then my mom knows she can give her kitchen without any worries.
I had some nice memories with my Btech friends, who used to come over at home and we had lot of fun. I always loved cooking something for them when they are home, Jee and Sindu, you would be remembering the days we were together at each others homes freaking out, and I used to stuff them with my researches ;) Jee still asks about my amma's sambar, whenever she calls me.
One with infy close friends (Ri, Meghz and Meera), the AAP party. The night out shopping and whole night cooking. The sandwiches, patties and gulab jamuns we had made, which got lot of appreciation from our team :)
Another one, that was 1 month before my wedding, when my mom and dad went out for inviting for my wedding, and the most memorable one. It was amma's birthday and she was not at home to enjoy it. I felt so sad, I couldn't do anything for her. Then my ideas began to work, I am always spontaneous with ideas, especially when giving surprises to my people. Our help chechi was there and I asked her a favor to bring me the things which I have in the list. So the idea was to prepare a full course kerala sadya, with boli and palpayasam. I don't know is it because of my passion to cook or because of my love to my amma, all the dishes came well, and I was feeling myself proud that I could do it for my mom. I remember, seeing that there was a small drop of tear in my mom's eyes, with pride, with happiness or the thought she is going to miss me after 1 month, still unknown.
After marriage, is the real professional cook came out of me. My second home was my workshop to try out all my crazy ideas, and my Mom in law, encourages me to do anything. The kitchen is all mine and she takes care of all raw materials are replinished at right time :)
Also being the elder daughter in law of family, I had got a wide range of opportunities, and each occasion, she proudly presents me as chef of the day :P
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