Report Card – May 2014

I was not that bad at cooking before marriage, I mean, I know about masalas, dhals, boiled rice, raw rice etc. I used to prepare edible but not so tasty food. When I got engaged I thought of learning basics like sambar, rasam etc.

After marriage, when we set our home in Bangalore (after about 2 months of marriage), my in-laws were with us for 10 days. I came to know that BD eats only chapati (phulka to be precise) not rice (with sambar, rasam etc.). I have no clue how to prepare phulka. My mom used to prepare chapati (on dosa pan with oil) only once in a month and that too with a staple side dish of potato gravy (the one with besan).

I fell at my MIL’s feet for help and asked her to teach me cooking. During their stay I learnt how to prepare phulka, dhal and kichdi. Actually I saw her preparing all this. Once they left the show started at our house. First of all I did not know how to knead chapati dough properly. It always turned little loose. And my phulkas never puff up on flame. If I prepare dhal, the entire building can consume it. I once prepared tomato rice with one tomato! I never got salt right in my dishes. Once BD told. ‘there should be be some uppu in upma’ 🙂

I never called my mom for any recipe. My MIL taught some easy recipes, tips and how we should listen to our heart when we are confused with salt quantity 🙂 Slowly I learnt house keeping and cooking from her. This continued for about 2 years after our marriage. That is till the time I was in Bangalore.

Now, though I am not a great cook and all that, I can prepare a decent meal for guest all by myself. But still, I feel I am good at south Indian cuisine compared to other cuisines.

Grandma’s Black Coffee – BM 4

Published January 4, 2014 by Bingo's Mom

This I wrote some days back when I had fever.

I am having fever, body pain, dizziness and what not? Whenever I have fever, I used to remember my grandmother. She is such a wonderful at the same time strict person. She will not enter the kitchen without having bath and that too she will do head bath everyday. Well, I can write a separate post about her.

Once, when I was in my higher secondary, I had fever. That time my mother was out of station and my grandmother was there. She used to give me black coffee (vara kaapi) once in every 3 hours and hot rasam rice. I felt that was good and I took full rest.

When my mother came, she scolded me and grandmother for not going to a doctor. She took me to the doctor and I had to have some bitter medicines and bland syrups. I wanted black coffee but if I ask for it my mother will widen her eyes and will scold me.

My grandmother being so sweet, she used to prepare it and give it to me when my mother went to buy veggies. We both enjoyed that time. Now when I remember my grandmother I CAN feel the smell of her black coffee and her love.

I want black coffee now. booohooo….

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Bingo got pinched with nails by her friend yesterday and it swelled a bit. Morning I was little busy running behind her so I am late today.

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Today’s prompt for blogathon is achievement and I didn’t do any major achievement in my life, except following:

I got married. Yes, it’s an achievement since I wanted become nun when I was in school.

I am cleaning my daughter’s bum, nose, body everyday. This is my major achievement because before marriage I refused to even touch kids if their nose is runny, even it is my own sister’s kid.

I stepped out of Tamilnadu after marriage and lived in 2 different states without knowing its language.

I learnt to cook.

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http://dreamymommy.wordpress.com/2013/12/30/blogathon-jan-2014/

Bingo’s Mom

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Report Card – May 2014

Cooking and Me

Grandma’s Black Coffee – BM 4