There is something just so utterly wonderful about cooking. It's the experimentation with ingredients, the swish of the wrist while stirring, the sizzling sound of adding something to hot oil, the smell that emanates from the dish, and the constant wonder about what the taste will be like. Those who have never cooked, have never lived- that's my opinion.
I have always liked cooking. Watching my mother in the kitchen, I picked up things here and there. I observed the amount of oil heating in the pan, listened to the number of whistles of the pressure cooker, and looked carefully at what she was putting into the dish. That's how I learnt. I started off with simple things like tea and boiled eggs. Then I moved on to cheese-tomato ommelettes and French Toast. After that came cakes and brownies, and then the chapter of chicken and mutton- and now, I am pretty much at home in the kitchen. Cooking's in my blood too- my both my grandmothers- fabulous cooks, my mom a great one too! My mom though is completely in a class of her room- she's the fastest cook I've seen. For instance, she can cook fish curry in 10 minutes flat! (I'm not lying.) She's also very inventive- she puts random ingredients in, and the dish smells and tastes wonderful.
But there are things I make even better than my mom- like ommelettes, cakes, and pasta- to name a few. My cakes have always been famous. Refer to another blog with a picture of cakes that I baked- NOT roadkill!
It's a truly therapeutic experience. If I need to relax- I either take a long hot bath, or I cook. I can literally feel my tension ebbing away while I chop the meat or the vegetables, add the spices, and stir the cooking.
Today I made pasta for lunch. I don't usually blow my own trumpet, but I am stating a fact when I say it was rather yummy!
There are people, who if asked if they can cook, reply, "Me? Oh, I can't even make tea!" Like it's something to be proud of. I mean, everyone should be able to cook- people still have a notion (even in this day and age) that girls should be able to cook, but why limit it just to the female sex? Everyone should know. It's a basic necessity. And it's not like cooking is all that tough!
I'm not the best cook in the world. Even I have my moments- when there's a tad too little or too much salt, when the amount of pepper makes me sneeze, or when the chicken is a little more 'cooked' than necessary. But I'm learning. And it's fun. It's a fun challenge- to try new things and experience new tastes.
As Harriet Van Horne, an American columnist once said, "Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon, or not at all."
Aah yes, I have entered into it 'with abandon'.
I'm bored sick of Old and Middle English, and Renaissance Literature, so I turned back to my old, ever-dependable friend yesterday- cooking. Made pomfret maach for lunch, which came out amazing, prompting Ma to say that I made it even better than her.
