Cooking Is Not A Symbol Of Domestication But An Art And Necessity [modified From Vidya Balans State

Agatha83 · Apr 28, 2020

Mithila48 said: ↑

Cooking food is a celebration of joy. Sharing food brings us together and it is expression of love and care towards others by nourishing their satisfaction or craving of tasty and variety foods. Cooking different foods during festivals and inviting friends or relatives blends our bonds stronger and it shows how much we love each other by cooking different foods of their choice. Trying hand in cooking also relives our memories spent with our grand parents and relatives recollecting the process of making and that’s how the legacy of cooking is passed onto generations. The idea to hone a skill or technique from our mothers and pass onto younger generation makes us feel really good.
Food is the Centre of attraction for any gatherings.
Even if someone is uninvited and they drop suddenly, if they are served good food they shal remember for their lives.
While one is cooking they should see that people whom they are serving should enjoy and this should expressed in the way the food is cooked... to let know others how much interest and care is being taken.
In Andhra earlier days when someone went to see a girl while match-making the old generation used to test the culinary skills of the girls family by tasting the mango pickle. From the smell , texture and taste one would arrive at a conclusion that the family has good traditional values.
In older generation homemakers who didn’t cook were looked down upon ... ideal women was supposed to know everything esp cooking.
But now present generation swiggy is the latest choice for gatherings. Either food is ordered online or the parties are arranged in hotels or a potluck where everyone is brought a dish to share instead of one bearing the burden of entire cooking.
Earlier women were home makers and most of the time was spent in kitchen taking care of cooking food for entire family. The burden was shared among women in household but now nuclear families being the growing trend cooking is not a priority when KFC and Macdonald’s are everywhere.
In the present times my opinion is people irrespective of genders should learn to be self reliant not only in cooking but many things so that dependency can reduce esp in this trying times of corona. Can’t predict how future will turn out to be.
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Dear @sln,

I never entered the kitchen till the age of 19 the time of my marriage, and have never left it even once during all my four and a half decades of marriage. With less money in our hands, we didn’t have the option of enjoying a meal in a restaurant. My only guide in cooking was Meenakshi Ammal’s ‘Samaithu Paar’ book, and it was through trial and error that I Improved my culinary knowledge.
From making a dosa to super soft idlis, there are many small tips and tricks, which we learn in the course of our life. I am sad that majority of the chefs belong to the male fraternity, while kitchen is supposed to be a fiefdom of women.
Since my DH has a fetish for saving things, in our kitchen, he will keep the gas flame to minimum and that one act tests my patience. So he is allotted other work like washing vessels, buying groceries, etc.
Thanks for a good write up.

Agatha83

sln · Apr 28, 2020

Dear Agatha,
what a realistic and beautiful narration of your cooking and kitchen experience.Tarala Dalal has written a number of books but I found it difficult to understand some of the ingredients.While men dominate TV shows women dominate you tube videos,Their explanation is simple and when followed produce amazing results.For example nobody makes thavala adais these days[deep south dish]I virtually followed you tube of Yogambal sundar with delectable finished product.Some one lowering the flame when you are cooking is highly irritating though done with good intentions..I have a bad habit of counting the whistles when my daughter is chatting away at the dining table with the pressure cooker on.in the kitchen.I plan to suggest to the cooker manufacturers to change the whistle sound to AIYO-AIYO after the required time. Regards.SLN

Agatha83 · Apr 28, 2020

sln said: ↑

Dear Agatha,
what a realistic and beautiful narration of your cooking and kitchen experience.Tarala Dalal has written a number of books but I found it difficult to understand some of the ingredients.While men dominate TV shows women dominate you tube videos,Their explanation is simple and when followed produce amazing results.For example nobody makes thavala adais these days[deep south dish]I virtually followed you tube of Yogambal sundar with delectable finished product.Some one lowering the flame when you are cooking is highly irritating though done with good intentions..I have a bad habit of counting the whistles when my daughter is chatting away at the dining table with the pressure cooker on.in the kitchen.I plan to suggest to the cooker manufacturers to change the whistle sound to AIYO-AIYO after the required time. Regards.SLN
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Dear@sln,

I wanted to make a point here regarding your comment. Now Aiyyo is the name of Lord Yama’s wife and never should be uttered even in your dreams. So please change your plans or about your suggestions to the cooker manufacturers!
I also watch all the you tube cookery videos uploaded by the women folks, more for the colorful sarees they sport and the accessories.! Even our dear sudha raghunathan is into cooking, posting videos daily, along with a sweet Carnatic song! So many things happening due to corona!

Agatha83

sln · Apr 28, 2020

Thanks.First of all I did not know Yama had a wife.Iwlll change the slogan-sahikallai niruthungo.I have become paranoid after my friend underwent open heart surgery due to stress-the pressure cooker lid had flown off four times in his house. Sudha posting videos singing is a revealation to me.
Thanks for stopping me from using an inauspicious slogan.
Regards .SLN