If taste buds could be tingled from afar.Oh ! Yes !I am back to my ruminating ways.The weekends give scope for increased hunger pangs and I love to wallow in the essential spices that pep up my thirst to innovate ,experiment and search for the guinea pigs.Essentially,cooking stories has always been my forte.I have to be honest.My entry into the pantry was a rather forced one.It was a compelling desire to please people and thus began the journey.
I am sure all of you would agree that we are not born with a ladle in our hands.Neither do genetic traits always carry the passion to brew,boil or stew.Mom and mother-in-law are Kitchen Queens in their own right.Having been exposed to the grind at a tender age,I look in awe at their tenacity even today.Did The aruvamanai sharpen their skills ? Could The aatu kal and the ammee be the reason for the soft behaviour.It is a story of the mortar and the pestle,a life of willing hardwork ,a teary crush and a cheerful grind.
Having been initiated into an oven, mavbe not though ,at a very tender age,I slowly developed the passion ....a passion that gave me room for creativity too.Simple management techniques come into play and I wish all the B schools could take in a tip or two from the working of an organised kitchen.With no offence meant to any particular community or person,the TAMBRAHM has not evolved much as far as cooking and eating habits are concerned.A safe guy,he still prefers to confine himself to the precincts of AATHU SAMAYAL.
The mornings still begin with the degree coffee kumbakonam style...Some households have shifted to Tea too.Yet a filter coffee continues to be a hot favourite...and any conversation during the day is sure to bring about references such as.....ANTHA KADAYIL Kapi podi Supera irrukku.Each one to his own choice...."A" Evvalavu ? "B "Evvalavu ,Chicory venuma vendama ????The coffee filter has given way to the coffee maker...Yet the priorities haven't changed,The first few drops of the decoction are still sought after.
The Puzhungarirsi kanji continues to make waves....and all that is nostalgic is yummy today.Breakfast has not changed much .Idli,Dosai,Pongal and upma continue to maintain the top slot....A hot second coffee Sip break is a must too .
Mamas and mamis are unwilling fora total change in culinary practices in the 21st century too.Its a continued tale of commitment.....commitment to savour the aroma that Patti had instilled in the veins.So we have migrated and crossed shores....but the love for the tamarind ,lime,mango and the tomato remains afresh.Our cooking is incomplete without the Kothamalli and the karuveppilai .We yearn for fruits ,vegetables and curd....hot rice ,sambar and piping hot rasam,thokku , podi & thugaiyal,ussili & paruppu.....appalam & vadam.....& that's about all on a daily basis .Less of Oil and great to taste...Simple it is ! and that's the way we all are.......descendants of a clan who have made Cooking so easy for us...Shouldn't we be ever thankful to them ?
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