Most of you know the story of how I began cooking. I started cooking after I got married – at the ripe old age of 25. I had just been married, just moved to the United States, just rendered jobless and homebound. With a broadband Internet connection, I hit the kitchen. The Internet was my best cooking guide and I gradually started making lunches and dinners. Of course, Pinch was my first teacher. He has the taste, the energy, the enthusiasm and the interest. Some of you may remember the saga of the yam dal that ran on for endless days. There are other amusing stories – I need to jog my memory.
Palak paneer, chhole, pulao, khichdi-kadi, paayasam – comfort food, party food, desserts, fancy stuff – I think I strayed into all of them. But making rotis – now that was awfully daunting. I totally admire those folks who stand by the gas and make one amazing roti after the other as the rest of the family gratefully awaits the next one that lands on their plates. My Mom did that beautifully…
To cut a long story short, I have now graduated to making rotis, puran polis and methi theplas!!! Oh, cooking fancy stuff brings its own rewards but making rotis fresh and piping hot – ready to serve – now that is a different kind of happiness altogether.
The funny thing is – I now know what keeps those women ticking. Feeding people fills your stomach more than any food ever can.
Update – I made rotis yesterday. With a little twist, though. I roasted cumin and fennel seeds and added them to the dough. With some turmeric and red Kashmiri chilli powder. Forgot to add the salt, though… 🙂 These *yellow* rotis served with green moong dal (seasoned with cumin, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and sweetened with jaggery) graced our lunchboxes today. Very nice indeed!
psasidhar says:
Good for you! I need to improve my cooking skills. Share your experiments when you can.
December 20, 2007 — 5:40 pm
Lakshmi says:
🙂 I do post them here every once in a while.
December 20, 2007 — 9:09 pm
jonquille_s says:
Woow!!
Man.. r u on a roll or what?? *Makes a mental note to learn something new and try out on hubby..he he*
December 21, 2007 — 5:55 am
Lakshmi says:
Re: Woow!!
Yeah, feels like one of those phases… 🙂
December 21, 2007 — 2:23 pm
inspirethoughts says:
Inspired by ur post on making rotis, I had a craving for rotis and made them last night…came up pretty nice too.:)
Good going on ur cooking spree.
BTW, can you pls share the recipe for the green moong dal that you mentioned above?
December 21, 2007 — 2:00 pm
Lakshmi says:
It is the same old recipe for green moong dal. Cook moong dal in a pressure cooker (I used 1 cup for two of us). You can use twice the amount of water. Keep on for two whistles. After you take it out of the cooker, add water to make it as liquid as you like. Do a tadka in ghee with cumin, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, split green chillies, mustard seeds. Add to the dal. Boil it for a while. Don’t forget to add salt to taste. Add some jaggery for the sweetness – Voila!!!
December 21, 2007 — 2:26 pm
inspirethoughts says:
Thanks for the recipe…sounds like masala daal that I make except that I dont add jaggery…I will surely try this. 🙂
December 21, 2007 — 2:48 pm