Embracing the new paths
It has been
five months since I got married and moved into our new home. Adjusting to
married life and a new environment has been an adventure, but nothing could
have prepared me for the twist that happened last week. Our office lunch
service was suddenly discontinued, forcing everyone to start bringing lunch
from home. This change meant that I had to start cooking every morning, a task
that initially seemed daunting.
In the same week, my mother-in-law had to take care of her mother, leaving me in charge of the kitchen. I was hesitant at first, lacking confidence in my cooking skills. However, with my mother-in-law guiding me, I began my culinary journey. She shared her recipes, showed me the layout of the kitchen, and helped me plan meals every day. It was a family effort, with my father-in-law and husband stepping in to assist in their own ways, ensuring that everything ran smoothly in the absence of our head lady.
In the beginning, cooking felt like an overwhelming task, both physically and mentally. It’s a comprehensive project involving planning, procuring ingredients, preparing, executing, presenting, and packaging. Whether cooking for one person or one hundred, the process remains the same. The meticulous attention to detail required to measure spices and the innate talent of moms to know exactly when to turn off the gas or how much chili or salt to add fascinated me. They can tell the spice level of a green chili just by looking at it!
This endeavor also took me down memory lane, reminding me how my parents emphasized the importance of cooking as a life skill. One summer vacation, I learned to make poha, upma, and chapatis alongside practicing calligraphy and swimming. My parents encouraged my brother and me to take part in the kitchen responsibilities. On his days off, my father would take charge of the kitchen, attempting complicated recipes and transforming the evenings into fun family cooking expeditions.
Despite the initial exhaustion, I soon realized the worth of this new responsibility. I had been struggling to find time to be creative and to make things. Cooking brought back the excitement of creating something new every day. The process of cooking is unique, with a blend of standard procedures and a touch of randomness. Everyone has their own style, and each meal is a delightful permutation and combination of ingredients and techniques.
Cooking is a skill passed down from one generation to the next, each adding its flavor of modernity, influenced by popular media and new products that find their way into our kitchen shelves. It's a beautiful blend of tradition and innovation.
Embracing this new role in the kitchen has been a transformative experience. It has brought our family closer, allowed me to discover a new creative outlet, and taught me the value of teamwork and shared effort. Cooking is more than just preparing food; it’s about bringing people together and creating memories.
In the same week, my mother-in-law had to take care of her mother, leaving me in charge of the kitchen. I was hesitant at first, lacking confidence in my cooking skills. However, with my mother-in-law guiding me, I began my culinary journey. She shared her recipes, showed me the layout of the kitchen, and helped me plan meals every day. It was a family effort, with my father-in-law and husband stepping in to assist in their own ways, ensuring that everything ran smoothly in the absence of our head lady.
In the beginning, cooking felt like an overwhelming task, both physically and mentally. It’s a comprehensive project involving planning, procuring ingredients, preparing, executing, presenting, and packaging. Whether cooking for one person or one hundred, the process remains the same. The meticulous attention to detail required to measure spices and the innate talent of moms to know exactly when to turn off the gas or how much chili or salt to add fascinated me. They can tell the spice level of a green chili just by looking at it!
This endeavor also took me down memory lane, reminding me how my parents emphasized the importance of cooking as a life skill. One summer vacation, I learned to make poha, upma, and chapatis alongside practicing calligraphy and swimming. My parents encouraged my brother and me to take part in the kitchen responsibilities. On his days off, my father would take charge of the kitchen, attempting complicated recipes and transforming the evenings into fun family cooking expeditions.
Despite the initial exhaustion, I soon realized the worth of this new responsibility. I had been struggling to find time to be creative and to make things. Cooking brought back the excitement of creating something new every day. The process of cooking is unique, with a blend of standard procedures and a touch of randomness. Everyone has their own style, and each meal is a delightful permutation and combination of ingredients and techniques.
Cooking is a skill passed down from one generation to the next, each adding its flavor of modernity, influenced by popular media and new products that find their way into our kitchen shelves. It's a beautiful blend of tradition and innovation.
Embracing this new role in the kitchen has been a transformative experience. It has brought our family closer, allowed me to discover a new creative outlet, and taught me the value of teamwork and shared effort. Cooking is more than just preparing food; it’s about bringing people together and creating memories.
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