Special Mom’s blog

When me and my husband first got married, both of us had no clue about cooking. We both were living in a hostel with a mess or canteen that was providing subpar food. So, when we got married, we had our own apartment and a full kitchen. My Mom came and helped me stock up the kitchen and I started cooking. My husband helped some but he told me clearly that was not his department and I really accepted it. I started cooking looking at a recipe book provided by my Mom. At that time we were living in the same city my parents lived. But on Saturday after lunch that we week, my husband suggested that we go to the movies. He said we can watch a movie near my parents’ house and then have dinner at my parents. After a week of my cooking we both were relived to go and have some good food! The lunch that I made that day was so bad, I still remember how it looked like. I think that trip to my Mom’s house was specifically to eat something tasty. We still laugh thinking about it.

When we moved to the States, I had to encounter another challenge. In India, groceries are usually delivered. I just gave a list. But when I came here, though I was a bit better at cooking (or improved) since it was more than a year after marriage, I had to learn to pick up my groceries from an aisle of multiple things. I knew the ingredients but all the Dals or the beans looked the same. I knew what kind of Dal was used for sambhar but I was totally lost in the shop. Anyhow I picked a few and got home. That weekend my husband invited some of his friends for lunch. It was 10 am and when I opened one packet I thought, this is not right! Then me and my husband came to the conclusion it was the wromg one kind of dal. He then called his friends and told them to come an hour late. The Indian store opened only at 11 am. He went and picked up the right ingredient and I made lunch.

Quarter century has passed since these incidents and I have made too many mistakes in my cooking. But nothing can beat these two incidents.

I was really fortunate when my Dad introduced me to one of his distant cousin in Portland, Oregon. The maami, (aunt) taught me a lot about cooking. In fact, she shared with me her recipe book. Meanwhile, my Mom used to write letters and she used to send some recipes. Internet was at an infant stage and telephones were expensive. I slowly collected those. Nearly three years later my father in law came to live us. I had a lot of practice cooking for him and he being a great cook taught me a lot more. I think by the time he left I sealed myself as a good cook. Yes, I do not bake or make elaborate sweets but I can make decent healthy home cooked meals for my family.

Any task you learn comes with practice. The more mistakes you make, the better you learn!😃😃😃