Childhood Eats and Treats

 Last day of vacation, school reopens tomorrow! I made caramel custard today. Preparing caramel custard brought back so many childhood memories!

I remember my amma making Rex or Weikfield caramel custard for us. We enjoyed it thoroughly. Sometimes she also made jelly for us. On special occasions she prepared Rasna. I still remember the carton that had a powder mix and some liquid in a little bottle that was mixed together in water to prepare the concentrate. We all sat around and watched her make it. We loved Rasna! Drinks like coke, Limca, Thumbs up and Goldspot were rarely bought.

In those days there was no concept of going out to restaurants to eat, everything was prepared at home. Special days called for special delicacies made with love at home. In the evening after playtime, amma prepared yummilicious snacks for us. We all enjoyed sitting cross-legged on the floor in a half circle and eating them with relish as we chatted and argued with our siblings. Amma served us all equally and she didn't have to coax us to eat it. When my Anna (father) and brother were back from work, we had dinner together. We were not fussy eaters, we ate whatever was served. We relished what we ate. I miss my amma's cooking as do my sisters. Childhood memories last forever.

What is the dish that brings back childhood memories for you???

Why This Craving?

I love food! My taste buds go on overdrive when I see a good spread of food.I am always game to try out different cuisines and I love to learn about different regions and their special dishes.This love for food is a surprise to many as they know for a fact that I am not so fond of cooking.Then why this craving for eating?

I am a HUGE fan of cookery shows(I know I mentioned that in my earlier blogs too)There are so many eating joints I want to eat at because I have read a review of those places in some magazine or some newspaper.I am not too excited about eating the food I prepare but even the idea of eating at my mom's place,sisters or friends place or even a meal out at a restaurant excites me.

Is there something behind this craving of mine?I fail to understand it,but in the meantime I continue eating...........

Cooking Tales

I am a self proclaimed foodie.I love to eat good food.

I have always been a fan of 'Maa ke haath ka khana' and all my sisters have inherited her skills of cooking.I am not surprised to know that I have not got the same skills.As a kid all I ever did was play,play and play some more or read,read and read some more.These pursuits gave little time to hone my cooking skills.

Thankfully though,I have managed to learn enough of cooking to feed myself and my small family.I am not a bad cook per se but I do not enjoy cooking as much.Funnily though,I love to watch all the cooking programmes televised like Masterchef Australia and the Indian Masterchef, Top Chef series, Floyd's India,Highway On My Plate......and so on.There is something that clicks when I see the manner in which the master chefs cut,saute,grill,bake and plate up their marvelous food on the screen.I love to read cook books and I do try some recipes that interest me. If wishes were horses,even I would have been a wonder cook.

Keeping my limited cooking skills in mind, I enjoy eating what others prepare.I enjoy eating out and trying out different kinds of food.I relish food prepared by my mom(but naturally,she is the best!) and  my sisters. I am eagerly waiting to taste food prepared by my gourmand cousin , Ajoy and my  cook-book writer friend and chef, Michael Swamy.

Please do not get me wrong.Though I say all this, I am not a bad cook at all.My daughter and hubby will vouch for that.I am a good ,if not great cook but I have set high standards for myself so I do not rate myself too highly.

So next time you are invited for lunch or dinner at my place you need not say your prayers or curse your stars because there will be a good,delicious spread for you.