Love & Spices, the right combination-A Mothers Formula

 

Have you frequently come across the saying that there is nothing like a Mothers cooked food. Have you ever wondered the reason why? Another statement, There is nothing like chutney and spices ground in stone and pestle. The taste is different, more fresh, more natural, more tasty.

The sense of food sets me on new adventures each time I venture into the kitchen. Two things that I am extremely passionate about, my love for food and experimentation and my fondness to play around with words. This playfulness has transformed into a new hobby where I feel the urge to cook up something new each day. I have observed my mother from very close quarters and have learnt quite a few tricks of the trade. She is happy cooking it up for her family and nothing pleases her more than seeing the sparkle in my eyes when the tongue makes the first contact with the first morsel of food. 

In goes the oil, add mustard fenugreek, Red Chilly. The oil splutters with excitement as a natural aroma scanters across the room. Some Curry Leaves add in more flavour. Its all getting heated up in taste. The smoke sets it up. Mother dear mothers hands are needed to chill down the hot dudes. So some tamarind mixed with cold water is added to cool down the boiling run rate, more smokes fill the room, yet a tangy one this time around. More colours as Mothers eyes soar with a nod of satisfaction. Red chilly and Turmeric Powder are in the mix of things. A splash of yellow and red makes it tantalizingly tasty. Freshly ground pepper, coriander, all mixed up and smashed to powder at home. Mother does not believe in picking up something off the supermarket rack. She feels that these commercial powders are lacking an important ingredient and that is oodles of love that only she can fill in. More redness and ripeness in the form of sliced up tomatoes. Pepper went in but whats pepper without salt, thats what salt and pepper does to a dish, gives it a macho look. Once more a smiling approval from Mother means hot, piping rasam is ready to be consumed. 

I guess that mothers all across the country bear the same certification, love, spices and affection. Up North its dear oil in the saucepan, followed by soft and well ground ginger garlic paste. Immediately the freshness fills the air with a omnipresent smell of the paste getting fried. In goes potatoes and cut vegetables. More freshly ground spices like cinnamon sticks, bay leaves, star anise, constitute what is popularly known as Garam Masala. Add red chilly powder, turmeric powder and Mr Salt who is the finisher of things. Once again that loving glance from dear Mother means that the cooked dish to ready to be splurged on. Love & Spices- The Right combination- A Mothers Formula.

How many of us have gone on those long tours, stayed in the best of hotels across the world, tasted some gastronomical delights yet have missed the Home cooked food by dear Mother. It has a seven sigma taste, seventh being love. We talk so much about TQM techniques but ever wonder how she gets it perfect each time, every time she steps into the kitchen. There is a routine that she follows each time, a set of steps that she follows as described above but each time the delight the tongue experiences is most beautiful. Mothers hands cook up a new wonder of the world each time. Note that while what you experience in a restaurant is a commercial experience what drops out of your mothers hand is a Divine experience.

There are so many mothers in the world who have had no education at all. no degree holders, no fancy hotel management or home sciences certification, yet the combination she cooks up in the kitchen deserves praise of the highest order. No knowledge of chemistry and mixes yet the powders and mixes go in one after another in an order of preference and proportions that is best known to her. Why then is food cooked by a Mother the best ever. One simple reason All Ingredients put together plus Love, Affection and Humility. Next time you step into the kitchen please don a mothers apron and what you will churn out will be the world best dish.....