Karthigai Deepam

Today was like any other ordinary day.. Nothing to do much. My aathukaarar is not in town, so didn't feel like doing anything. Athukkaga avar irunthaa mattum ethuvum pannamaatten...( He is relieved from the so-called bakshanam pack from Sri krishna sweets).

All those packs are marketing gimmicks with age-old seedai and murukku and so called neivedhyam items packed long before. All new-x - gen ladies like me (simply called somberis) buy those things and pretend to celebrate the festivals. From deepavali onwards i realised that nothing can beat the home-prepared payasam and vadai and kesari and all stuffs . The preparation , well begins the previous day with downloaded and cook-book recipes. Choosing the best and convenient among them. So far everything turned out good except for the kesari which i tried for nonbu... Never mind can always improve as long as my aathukarar is there for experimentation. Paavam manushan , never he complains....Vera vazhi illa athu vera vishayam..


Now Grand sweets also jumped into the wagon - pre-packed bakshanam specials.. Havent tried yet.....

Todays karthigai was celebrated cave man way with bananaas and apples...........

Samaiyal

Man.......... Look at the transformation. Is this the girl who knew nothing but only to prepare buttermilk that too with loads of salt?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Before marriage

I have given lots of anxious moments to my grandmother in the kitchen. Though she complains that i never would do things on my own she actually never gave any chance. i was the apple of her eye.

1. I would actually wonder how these ladies are boiling milk and how they would know that it had come to the saturation point. This was mainly because my grandmother was using the "pal cooker" and it would give the whistle sound - an old model in which we have to pour water removing the cover of the whistle. Then she would ask me to reduce the flame. I would wonder how does on earth she knows when to switch it off. but would never dare to ask her because then if i was to learn it means i have to do and give it a try. Kitchen was a place for me to take my plate and wash my hands.

2. Then the next best thing was the rice. She had a small paaththiram in which she would cook 1 cup of rice for both of us. Actually this sort of samaiyal was only after the death of my grandpa. Previously it was a joint family and the samaiyal on the whole would be for not less than 20 people per session. This excludes the number of the guests which my uncle, grandpa and i would bring very often without notice.

One day all of a sudden she was sick and was hospitalised. Then after recovery she didnt want to be a burden for her daughter-in-laws who gave rasam and rice for 3 days. so she asked me to keep the rice in the cooker. She gave me all the instructions properly but not the most important one.

Bang.................... went the cooker touching the ceiling and missing me by few seconds. I was asked several questions but i replied everything with utmost confidence.

Atlast we discovered that i hadnot kept water in the cooker for the vessel to float????????????????????????????



After marriage

Now I can prepare a whole of feast even for a gathering of 10 -20 people. Thanks to LIFCO samaiyal puthagam and not to leave the internet.

She is dumbstuck with my transformation and lavishly praises to all my relatives about my culinary skills though not even once she admitted it to me.

This time the kara adai and the vella adai was perfect to the T. And i would give full 10/10. But the rava kesari was a tragedy this time.

Though my hubby never complains he enthusiastically would go a bit farther by eating and relishes each and every dish i make.

Though i can cook all items with little help from cook book my trademark is

1. Filter coffee
2. Samabar - both ordinary and arachuvittathu
3. Paruppu usili
4. Potato fry
5. vetha kuzhambu
6. Not the least payasam

Always this would be my menu if someone comes to my house. So if anyone is to visit my home my in-laws are so sure of the menu that they would surprise the guests with the name of the items served.

I have taken a oath to change the menu atleast for the next get-to-together.